Researchers from the National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN) have uncovered rock paintings in Jalapao National Park, Tocantins, Brazil, dating back more than two millennia. The findings add a significant chapter to the region’s rich archaeological record, offering a vivid glimpse into the lives of people who inhabited central Brazil long before colonial contact.
Field notes describe Jalapao as hosting at least 16 pre-colonial archaeological sites. The newly documented rock art features depictions of human footprints and animals such as deer and wild boar, alongside shapes that resemble celestial bodies. These motifs hint at daily activities, mobility patterns, and perhaps ceremonial or ritual associations tied to the night sky.
Earlier expeditions have recovered ceramic shards and stone implements at Jalapao, which researchers interpret as possibly serving as tools or instruments used by ancient artists and craftsmen. The collection suggests a community with specialized skills in fabrication, decoration, and perhaps even trade or exchange networks that linked different sites across the landscape.
Scholars propose that the carvings were produced with sharpened stones and wooden implements. The pigments used to color the rock surfaces are believed to have come from grinding iron ore and mixing the resulting powder with animal fats and plant oils, creating durable hues that have endured for centuries. The combination of technique and pigment chemistry points to a sophisticated approach to artistic expression and material culture.
Archaeologists emphasize that the rock art and associated artifacts shed light on both the daily practices and spiritual beliefs of local indigenous communities. The imagery may reflect a worldview that connected people, animals, and celestial phenomena, offering clues about cosmology, ritual behavior, and the social organization of these groups in a landscape that remains largely wild and sparsely populated today.
As researchers compare Jalapao’s discoveries with broader regional patterns, they note parallels with other ancient sites in different parts of the world. For instance, in Kurdistan, recent investigations have revealed a sanctuary dedicated to a pre-Islamic water goddess, underscoring a long-standing human tendency to link natural resources with spiritual significance. Such comparisons enrich the interpretation of Jalapao’s material culture by providing a global context for how communities expressed reverence for water, land, and sky through art and ritual architecture.