Ancient Petroglyphs Unearthed Alongside Dinosaur Tracks in Brazil

Archaeologists in Brazil have discovered petroglyphs alongside fossilized dinosaur footprints in the northeastern state of Paraíba, suggesting a deliberate effort not to disturb the more than 100-million-year-old tracks. The rock art, found at the Serrote do Letreiro Site in Vale dos Dinossauros, features circular, abstract motifs and dates back to between 2,620 and 9,400 years ago. The researchers believe that the creators of the petroglyphs may have mistaken the dinosaur footprints for those of large flightless birds and now-extinct mastodons. This discovery establishes a unique symbolic connection between human graphic expression and the fossil record, unlike any other instances found in Australia, Poland, and the US.