Rupestrian Paintings from the Archaeological Area of Piripiri, Piauí, Brazil: A Current Overview- Juniper Publishers
Archaeology & Anthropology- Juniper Publishers
Abstract
The rural area from the municipality of Piripiri, in
the state of Piauí, Northeastern Brazil, is known to contain several
archaeological sites, which are essentially sandstone shelters and walls
decorated with rupestrian paintings and engravings. Located in the
Corrente stream margins, predominantly in the villages known as Buriti
dos Cavalos, Cadoz Velho, and Jardim, the rocky monuments present high
density of prehistoric inscriptions. The rupestrian paintings mainly
represent abstract figures, spear throwers, human handprints,
anthropomorphs and zoomorphs, in different hues of red, but also in
yellow, black, gray (including greenish-gray), green-olive, white, pink,
wine, dark-purple and orangish. Besides the polychromy, the ancient
inscriptions exhibit frequent overlaps and recurrences of the motifs
represented in the rocky supports. Eight archaeological sites are
briefly presented and their main features are described.
Keywords: Rupestrian paintings; rupestrian engravings; archaeological heritage; archaeological area of Piripiri; Brazil
Introduction
The Northeastern Brazil is a region extremely rich in
archaeological sites [1,2]. Only in the Serra da Capivara National Park
(Southeast Piauí), more than 940 archaeological sites are known [3-5].
The rupestrian paintings of these region were dated by combining
different dating techniques on samples from several of those
archaeological sites. Data accumulated up to now suggest that some
inscriptions have ages estimated from ca. 30,000 years BP [6-9]. Due to
their expressive number and the cultural value
of these archaeological sites, especially those decorated with an
exceptional collection of prehistoric rupestrian paintings, the Serra da
Capivara National Park was formally recognized to
be a Human Heritage by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization) [3,10]. Besides the Serra da Capivara
National Park, the Serra das Confusões National Park [4] and the Sete
Cidades National Park are particularly rich in archaeological sites.
Archaeological sites from Piripiri
The objective of this review article is to present the main
characteristics of the prehistoric rupestrian paintings from eight
archaeological sites located in the rural area of the municipality
of Piripiri (Figure 1), North Piauí, Brazil, which have been
investigated since 2009 [11,12].
Pedra do Cantagalo I
Pedra do Cantagalo I is an archaeological site located in the
Jardim village, rural area of the municipality of Piripiri. It consists
of a sandstone shelter decorated with more than 1,950 rupestrian
paintings representing mainly abstract figures, spear throwers,
human handprints and anthropomorphic and zoomorphic motifs,
in different hues of red, but also in yellow, black, gray, white,
pink, wine, dark-purple and orangish [13,14] (Figure 2). Besides
the high density of prehistoric inscriptions and polychromy,
this archaeological site also stands out due to the overlaps and
recurrences of the figures represented. Rupestrian engravings
(some were painted), chipped lithics, polished lithics, ceramic
fragments and mineral pigments in the form of red and yellow
ochres also were found [13-15] (Figure 3).
Residual charcoals found in well-structured hearths, as
recently evidenced from excavations in this rocky shelter, were
14C-dated using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) as being
from 1,180 ± 30 years before present (BP; calibrated result at 95%
probability, 2σ, from 1,070 to 960 years cal BP; Beta-420913)
[16,17]. Samples containing thin layers of paint from rupestrian
paintings of different colors, as well as red and yellow ochres,
ceramic fragments, palaeosediments and saline efflorescences
samples collected in this archaeological site were investigated
by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, CHN elemental
analysis, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive
spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 57Fe-
Mössbauer spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, grazing incidence
X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction and magnetization measurements using vibrating sample magnetometer, in an effort
to assess the chemical and mineralogical characteristics of these
materials [14,16-21].
Despite of the several experimental difficulties to analyze these
archaeological materials from the cultural heritage, particularly
due to the complex chemical and mineralogical composition and
to the exceptionally small amount of samples commonly available
for manipulation in the laboratory, the chemical and mineralogical
data provide stimulating evidences and detailed information about
the chemical-mineralogical nature of these vestiges of prehistoric
human activity from the rocky shelter Pedra do Cantagalo I.
The archaeometry has been used as an important tool for the
analysis of several types of ancient materials of archaeological
sites from Piauí and the 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy has been
used as a non-destructive nuclear technique and decisively
fundamental on the chemical-mineralogical characterization of
ferruginous species of these materials [10,14,16,18-34].
Pedra do Atlas
The archaeological site known as Pedra do Atlas is a sandstone
shelter located in the Buriti dos Cavalos village, rural area of the
municipality of Piripiri, decorated with 423 rupestrian paintings
represent abstract figures, spear throwers, human handprints
and anthropomorphic and zoomorphic motifs, in different hues of
red, yellow, gray, green-olive, white, pink, wine, dark-purple and
orangish [35] (Figure 4). Among the most recurrent rupestrian
paintings, there are 106 representations of spear throwers.
Some rupestrian engravings are also observed. Recently, ceramic
fragments, red and yellow ochres, and some lithic artifacts were
found on the surface of the sheltered soil [32].
Following the same research strategy proposed for the Pedra
do Cantagalo I site, samples containing thin layers of paint from
rupestrian paintings of different colors, as well as red and yellow
ochres, and saline efflorescences samples collected of the Pedra
do Atlas site, were also investigated by several archaeometric
techniques [30,32,36].
Cadoz Velho I
The Cadoz Velho I archaeological site is a sandstone
shelter located in the Cadoz Velho village, rural area of the
municipality of Piripiri, containing 214 rupestrian paintings
that consists of abstract figures, human handprints, zoomorphic
and phytomorphic motifs, painted predominantly in different
tonalities of red, but also in orange [37] (Figure 5).
Fazendinha I
The archaeological site known as Fazendinha I is a sandstone
shelter with prehistoric inscriptions located in the rural area
of the municipality of Piripiri [38]. The rocky shelter contains
an exceptional collection of 141 rupestrian paintings and 65
rupestrian engravings. The rupestrian paintings consist of abstract
figures, spear throwers, human handprints, zoomorphs (lizards),
anthropomorphs and phytomorphs, painted predominantly in
different tonalities of red, but also in black, orangish, wine, darkpurple,
and orangish-brown (Figure 6). The rupestrian engravings
(made by pecking; some finished by abrading) represent mainly
cupules, but also abstract figures and a lizard (the only engraved
animal known in all prehistoric sites of the archaeological region
from Piripiri) [38]. Most of the engravings were also painted.
Besides the high density of rupestrian inscriptions, there are
overlaps and recurrences between the painted and engraved
motifs.
Caminho da Caiçara I
The Caminho da Caiçara I archaeological site is in the Cadoz
Velho village, rural area of the municipality of Piripiri. The
sandstone walls of this prehistoric shelter are decorated with 205
rupestrian paintings representing abstract figures, spear throwers,
phytomorphs and anthropomorphs, painted predominantly in
different tones of red, but also in black, yellow, brown, wine and
orange [39] (Figure 7). In addition to a high density of rupestrian
inscriptions, there are overlaps and recurrences of painted motifs,
such as spear throwers, concentric circles, sequences of sticks,
agglomerates of fingerings and phytomorphs. The rupestrian
engravings include cupules.
Pedra Ferrada
The Pedra Ferrada is a sandstone complex located in the
Oiticica village, rural area of the municipality of Piripiri, containing
37 rupestrian paintings represent abstract figures and human
handprints in different hues of red, dark-purple and orangish [40]
(Figure 8).
Pedra do Dicionário
The Pedra do Dicionário is a rocky shelter located in the Buriti
dos Cavalos village, rural area of the municipality of Piripiri. The
sandstone walls of this archaeological site are decorated with
356 rupestrian paintings and a few rupestrian engravings in the
shape of cupules; the paintings are representations of abstract
figures, spear throwers, human handprints and zoomorphs, and
were done predominantly in various shades of red, also existing
inscriptions in yellow, wine, pink, black and orangish, highlighting
a figure on the greenish-gray color, by its rarity [41] (Figure 9).
Besides the polychromy, there are overlaps and recurrences of the
figures represented, among which stand out 53 spear throwers
and 11 human handprints.
Samples containing thin layers of paint from rupestrian
paintings of different colors, as well as saline efflorescences
samples collected of the Pedra do Dicionário site, were investigated
by several archaeometric techniques [24].
Pedra da Biblioteca
The Pedra da Biblioteca is a sandstone shelter also located
in the Buriti dos Cavalos village, rural area of the municipality
of Piripiri [42]. This archaeological site is decorated with 90
rupestrian paintings, representing mainly abstract figures
and spear throwers, in the gray, wine and orangish colors, and
predominantly in different tonalities of red (Figure 10). Besides
the prehistoric paintings, there are a few rupestrian engravings.
Conservation Problems from the Archaeological Sites from Piripiri
The causes of degradation of the archaeological sites from
Piripiri are mainly of natural origin, due to the fragile constitution
of the rocky support: the sandstone shelters are in advanced state
of degradation, literally undergoing decomposition [13,35,37-42].
The state of conservation of rupestrian paintings and engravings
is of concern: the prehistoric inscriptions suffer from the action
of infiltrations and run-off of water, the resulting moisture
encourages the formation of a variety of lichens, mosses and the
growth of other microorganisms [13,35,37-42]. Suffer also by the
thick layers of saline efflorescences, wind erosion, animal-dejects
and insects (such as termites and wasp nests, and hives of bees),
besides the mechanical, chemical and biological degradation
caused by plants attaching to rocky supports.
Unfortunately, human interventions are also responsible
for serious conservation problems in these archaeological sites,
predominantly by deposition garbage on unguided visits, graffiti
(including about the rupestrian paintings and engravings),
removal of native vegetation surrounding of rocky shelters, and
fires [13,35,37,40-42]. Domestic animals are also often found
in the sandstone shelters, leaving thick layers of dejects on the
archaeological sediments.
General Considerations and Future Challenges
The southeastern from Piauí is known internationally for
presenting, in the area of the Serra da Capivara National Park
and its surroundings, the largest concentration of archaeological
sites containing rupestrian art, per square meter, of the world.
However, the rest of Piauí, likewise, presents dotted with traces
related to the presence of prehistoric human groups, especially,
prehistoric cave paintings, found in shelters and rocky blocks
from north to south.
In this article, it was shown that the municipality of Piripiri,
in the north of Piauí, has an important concentration of sandstone
shelters decorated with paintings and rock engravings. Despite
of relatively smaller amount of data about such prehistoric sites,
of the several difficulties, mainly to carry out field activities,
the data already obtained provide stimulating evidences with
detailed information about the graphic characteristics of this
rich archaeological heritage. The preliminary survey of eight
archaeological sites showed that these sandstone shelters present
high density of rupestrian paintings made with different colors.
Besides the polychromy, the prehistoric inscriptions exhibit
frequent overlaps and recurrences of the motifs represented in
the rocky supports, mainly spear throwers and human handprints.
The graphic features these paintings are essentially different from
those found in the Serra da Capivara National Park, Southeastern
of Piauí.
The occurrence of serious conservation problems points to
the need for urgent interventions, since some of them, such as
termites, are moving forward quickly on the rupestrian paintings,
besides of removal of graffiti, for example. Is need the elaboration
of a pre-diagnosis, with proposals for action to remove or control
the most degrading agents.
Acknowledgment
Work supported by the National Council for Scientific
and
Technological Development (CNPq; grants # 487148/2013-4 and
# 313431/2017-5). The author thank Andrews Araújo Rodrigues,
Cecília Aparecida Lima, Elnathan Nícolas Lima da Costa, Heralda
Kelis Sousa Bezerra da Silva, Pablo Roggers Amaral Rodrigues,
Petherson Farias de Oliveira, Ruan Nery Gonçalves, Victor Hugo
Gomes Tostes and Yana Raquel Viana Alves, students at UFPI, for
their help on the field and laboratory works; and particularly
grateful to Dr. José Domingos Ardisson (Research Center for the
Development of Nuclear Technology – CDTN, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais,
Brazil), for their help with the Mössbauer measurements at
low temperatures, and to Dr. José Domingos Fabris (Universidade
Federal de Minas Gerais - UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais,
Brazil), for his unrestricted support and constant help for the
carrying out the archaeometric measurements.
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