Cavernas do Peruaçu Environmental Protection Area
Encyclopedia
Cavernas do Peruaçu Environmental Protection Area is an Environmentally Protected Area
of Brazil
. On September 16th, 1998, this area was added to the UNESCO
World Heritage Tentative List for its universal natural and cultural significance.
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. On September 16th, 1998, this area was added to the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Tentative List for its universal natural and cultural significance.
Archaeology
The Peruaçu valley's canyons, caves, galleries and permanent water supply favoured human occupation as long as 12.000 years ago. Rock paintings are extremely abundant all over the area, in sheltered areas, on canyon walls and in cave entrances. Several painting styles are found together, allowing successive cultural influences to be studied. The cavern's dryness preserved their organic remains, such as the food reliefs. The main occupation of the region was by hunter/gatherers. More recently, different types of plants were cultivated: such as corn, tobacco, cotton, manioc, beans, etc. Grain storage areas and corn paintings have been discovered (Lapa do Boquete & Lapa dos Desenhos).