Lapa do Santo, Archaeological site and cave in Matozinhos, Brazil
Lapa do Santo is a limestone rock shelter and burial site in the tropical savanna region of Lagoa Santa. The shelter extends beneath a high rocky massif and contains numerous ancient graves from thousands of years ago.
Danish naturalist Peter Lund began studying the cave in the 19th century and uncovered human remains alongside extinct megafauna. The site reveals continuous human habitation spanning thousands of years in this region.
The site holds burial grounds that show different ways people honored their dead through body modifications and ritual ceremonies. These practices reveal how the early inhabitants expressed respect and performed meaningful rites for those they lost.
The site is located within a protected environmental area and offers opportunities to learn about ancient settlements and burial practices. Visitors should be prepared for uneven ground and cave conditions.
Excavations revealed one of the earliest cases of human decapitation in the Americas, with a skull arranged next to two severed hands. This finding shows burial practices that were far more complex than researchers initially expected.
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