Pedra Furada

Pedra Furada is a rock shelter with prehistoric art in Serra da Capivara National Park, where over 800 sites contain ancient paintings and remains. The cave walls and natural overhangs are covered with thousands of handpainted motifs reflecting different styles and techniques from various periods.

The site was excavated in 1973, revealing charcoal remains dated to between 48,000 and 32,000 years ago. These findings fundamentally challenged existing theories about the earliest human settlement in the Americas.

The rock paintings show scenes of hunting, daily life, and animals rendered with natural pigments made from minerals and plants. You can observe how early inhabitants depicted their surroundings and the creatures that shared their world.

Access to the site is arranged through guided tours organized from the Serra da Capivara National Park visitor center in São Raimundo Nonato. Your guide will explain the paintings and ensure you navigate the rock formations safely.

Stone tools and hearths discovered here show that people cooked and worked at this location far earlier than previously accepted timelines for human settlement in the hemisphere. The combination of tools and art together tells a richer story than paintings alone.