Brazil's Serra da Capivara holds the oldest and largest concentration of prehistoric American sites.

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Deep in the Brazilian state of Piauí lies a mountain range that served as a dense hub for ancient human activity long before the arrival of Europeans. Beyond its famous prehistoric cave paintings, the park reveals a complex history of early tool use and even modern-day primate ingenuity.

Established to safeguard a vast collection of prehistoric artifacts and rock art, Serra da Capivara National Park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. Spanning 1,291.4 square kilometres, the park is defined by the Serra da Capivara range, a name translating to Capybara Hills. Under the leadership of head archaeologist Niède Guidon, the region has been extensively studied, revealing that the area was densely populated during the pre-Columbian and pre-Cabraline eras.

The park is home to Pedra Furada, its most renowned archaeological site, though it is far from the only significant location. Sítio do Meio, considered the second most important rock shelter, contains artifacts from the Upper Pleistocenic phase. Researchers have identified at least 98 stone tools at this site that appear to predate 12,500 BP. Meanwhile, the Toca da Tira Peia site has yielded stone tools potentially dating back 22,000 years, a timeline established through the application of optically stimulated luminescence.

Intriguingly, the park’s history is not solely human. The area is also home to bearded capuchins, which possess the largest known tool kit of any wild capuchin population. These monkeys utilize stone tools for foraging, threat displays, and sexual signaling, and they employ sticks for probing. By loosening soil with stones before digging with their hands, these primates demonstrate a sophisticated level of tool use that adds a unique layer to the park's status as a site of profound biological and historical significance.

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