Researchers in eastern Brazil have uncovered an extraordinary site where 9,000-year-old petroglyphs are etched just inches away from what are believed to be dinosaur footprints dating back 66 million years. The discovery, located at Serrote do Letreiro, a rural archaeological zone in Paraíba, could reshape our understanding of prehistoric humans and their relationship to the fossil record.

Carvings Found Inches From Cretaceous-era Tracks

The site was first noted in 1975, but recent drone surveys have revealed the full extent of the ancient carvings and their remarkably close proximity to the dinosaur tracks. Some petroglyphs lie just two to four inches away from the fossilized footprints.

These newly documented petroglyphs differ in style and technique, indicating that multiple artists or generations contributed to the site’s visual record. The artwork appears to have been created by small seminomadic groups of hunters and gatherers who lived in the region between 9,400 and 2,620 years ago.

Researchers Suggest Symbolic Relationship with Fossils

The team behind the study, published in Nature, emphasizes the spiritual or symbolic significance of the site. Leonardo Troiano, Coordinator of Cooperation and Promotion at Brazil’s National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute, explained that the arrangement of petroglyphs around the footprints may reflect a deep cultural connection between ancient humans and the fossilized remains they encountered.

“The ancient inscriptions (petroglyphs), strategically positioned around the dinosaur footprints, reveal a deep reverence for fossil tracks among Brazil’s ancient, indigenous communities”, wrote Troiano.

This notion points to a remarkable intersection of archaeology and palaeontology, where cultural expression coexists with natural history. The site offers a rare opportunity to explore how early humans interpreted and interacted with the fossilized remnants of a much older past.

Credit: Nature

Bridging Ancient Symbolism And Paleontological Record

Troiano described the site as a unique convergence of natural and cultural heritage: “The findings bridge ancestral symbols with the fossil record and highlight the connection between native people and fossils.”

According to the research team, the significance of the site goes beyond scientific data—it forms part of what Troiano called our “collective cultural heritage.”

“Ultimately, this site is evidence of our species’ journey and the ongoing human engagement with the natural world and its fossil record (an especially rich one in Brazil). As such, this special site forms an integral and unique component of our collective cultural heritage”.

Did Prehistoric People Make Sense Of Extinct Giants?

The site raises compelling questions about early human cognition, observation, and myth-making. Did these ancient communities recognize the footprints as belonging to creatures long extinct? Were these formations interpreted as part of a spiritual landscape, or did they inspire narratives now lost to time?

Although it is unlikely that these prehistoric people had a scientific understanding of dinosaurs, the intentional positioning of the carvings next to the tracks implies a deliberate acknowledgment of their significance.

A Collaborative Effort In Discovery

The discovery was made possible through a collaborative team that includes archaeologist Heloisa Bitú and palaeontologists Aline Marcele Ghilardi and Tito Aureliano. Troiano expressed his gratitude for their joint efforts: “The team couldn’t be prouder.”

“Perforation involves using a kind of stone hammer to create depressions on the surface, resembling stippling, while scraping entails rubbing a stone against the surface until it forms the desired engraving,” he concluded.