An article on archaeology.org from Newsweek - '2,000-Year-Old Rock Art Discovered in Central Brazil' - reports that researchers from Brazil’s National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN) have identified rock engravings that may date as far back as 2,000 years at 16 archaeological sites in Jalapão, the eastern region of the state of Tocantins.

Rock art identified recently in the Jalapão region of Tocantins state in Brazil. It is not clear who made the artworks or what their purpose was. Image: RÔMULO MACÊDO/IPHAN.

The researchers have found evidence for human occupation in the area that dates to some 12,000 years ago. At some of the sites, which are close to each other along the same rock face, they also found a smaller number of paintings in red pigments. The artworks depict human footprints, tracks of animals such as wild pigs and deer, and figures.

16 archaeological sites have been rediscovered in Jalapão, the eastern region of the state of Tocantins (in red), Central Brazil. Image: Wikipedia.

IPHAN archaeologist Rômulo Macedo explains that "In addition to the relationship of proximity, what connects these sites is the recurrence of the symbols represented, demonstrating that the creators of the rock records, especially the engravings, shared the same belief system." He added that the techniques used to make the paintings, as well as the subjects represented, suggest that the paintings are of a different date than the engravings and may have been created by a different culture.