Construction of a new apartment complex in northeastern Brazil took an unexpected turn when workers stumbled upon human bones and pottery fragments with smoothed edges, indicative of their age.
The coastal city of Sao Luis became the site of extensive excavations, revealing a multitude of artifacts left by ancient peoples dating back up to 9,000 years.
Archaeologists believe this discovery could reshape the understanding of human settlement history in Brazil.
In 2019, the Brazilian construction company MRV enlisted W Lage Arqueologia, led by archaeologist Wellington Lage, for an impact study at the site.
Initially unaware of the significant findings awaiting them, the 15-acre plot known as Rosane’s Farm, nestled in tropical vegetation and surrounded by Sao Luis’s urban sprawl, yielded traces of ancient civilizations dating back to the 1970s.
The area had garnered attention in 1991 when part of a human jawbone was discovered, CBS News reported.
As excavation progressed, Lage’s team unearthed a wealth of artifacts, including stone tools, ceramic shards, decorated shells, and bones.
Over four years, they uncovered 43 human skeletons and more than 100,000 artifacts, as reported by Brazil’s Institute for National Historic and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN).
The institute, acknowledging the magnitude of the discovery, plans to meticulously catalog the artifacts, conduct in-depth analyses, exhibit the findings, and publish comprehensive research on the site.
Written by B.C. Begley
*The following content has been overlayed by an A.I. system for editing and proofreading purposes and should be used for informational purposes only. Any actions taken based on this content are at your own risk. We recommend seeking qualified expertise or conducting further research to validate and supplement the information provided.
B.C. Begley 