Serra da Capivara National Park

Piauí, Brazil

Serra da Capivara National Park, located in the arid hinterlands of Piauí in northeastern Brazil, is one of the most extraordinary archaeological and cultural landscapes in the Americas. Established in 1979 and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, the park spans over 1,290 square kilometers and is home to more than 1,300 archaeological sites, many of which contain prehistoric rock art that may date back over 25,000 years.

These vivid paintings, etched into sandstone cliffs and rock shelters, depict scenes of hunting, dancing, rituals, and daily life, offering a rare and profound glimpse into some of the earliest known human communities in South America. The park’s terrain is a dramatic mix of plateaus, canyons, and caatinga scrubland, shaped by millions of years of geological evolution.

Hidden within this rugged landscape are natural rock shelters like Pedra Furada and Toca do Boqueirão da Pedra Furada, where archaeologists have uncovered stone tools and hearths that challenge conventional timelines of human migration into the Americas. The work of pioneering archaeologist Niède Guidon and her team has brought global attention to the site, sparking debates about the antiquity of human presence in the New World.

Beyond its archaeological treasures, Serra da Capivara is also a haven for biodiversity, with endemic species of flora and fauna adapted to its semi-arid climate. The park is managed with a strong emphasis on conservation and education, supported by institutions like the Museum of the American Man Foundation in nearby São Raimundo Nonato.