Santa Catarina is a state in the South Region of Brazil. Of Brazil's 26 states, it is the 7th smallest state in total area and the 11th most populous. Additionally, it is the 9th largest settlement, with 295 municipalities. The state, with 3.4% of the Brazilian population. Santa Catarina is bordered by Paraná to the north, Rio Grande do Sul to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Argentine province of Misiones to the west. The coastline is over 450 km, i.e., about half of Portugal's mainland coast.
In 1998 I was fortunate to carry out a Bradshaw Foundation expedition to the Island of Santa Catarina (Ilha de Santa Catarina) under the direction of Brazilian Research Archaeologist Keler Lucas. Lying of the coast of Brazil, Santa Catarina has many impressive archaeological rock art sites.
While the majority of my time was spent recording the rock art petroglyphs of Campeche Island on the south-east side of Santa Catarina Island, we also visited several other notable locations, including Arvoredo, Santinho, and a planned visit to Coral Island.
Coral Island lies about 15 miles south of Santa Catarina and is about the same size as Campeche Island, and like Arvoredo has no beach on which to land. Keler Lucas had arranged for a fisherman to take us to Coral Island, unfortunately on the day we planned the visit the wind had turned and we were advised that it would be impossible to get ashore, so I was unable to record these petroglyphs in person.
On Coral Island are two important panels of similar size as those on Arvoredo. One of these panel was dynamited by the treasure seekers before 1960, so only fragments of the beautiful carving can now be seen in the jumble of rocks that cover the site.
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