Researchers in eastern Brazil have discovered an extraordinary site where petroglyphs dating back 9,000 years are found just inches away from what are believed to be dinosaur footprints from the Cretaceous period. The discovery at Serrote do Letreiro has shed new light on prehistoric humans and their relationship with the fossil record.
The site was first noted in 1975, but recent drone surveys have revealed the full extent of the ancient carvings and their close proximity to the dinosaur tracks. The petroglyphs differ in style and technique, suggesting that multiple artists or generations contributed to the site’s visual record. They were created by small seminomadic groups of hunters and gatherers who lived in the region between 9,400 and 2,620 years ago.
The team behind the study believes that the arrangement of petroglyphs around the footprints may reflect a deep cultural connection between ancient humans and the fossilized remains they encountered. According to Leonardo Troiano, Coordinator of Cooperation and Promotion at Brazil’s National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute, the inscriptions reveal a “deep reverence for fossil tracks among Brazil’s ancient, indigenous communities.”
The discovery bridges the gap between archaeology and palaeontology, offering a rare opportunity to explore how early humans interpreted and interacted with the fossilized remnants of an older past. The site is considered a unique convergence of natural and cultural heritage, highlighting the connection between native people and fossils.
While it’s unlikely that prehistoric people had a scientific understanding of dinosaurs, the intentional positioning of the carvings next to the tracks implies a deliberate acknowledgment of their significance. The discovery raises compelling questions about early human cognition, observation, and myth-making.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/04/did-ancient-humans-really-see-dinosaurs