Establishment of Serra da Capivara National Park

Serra da Capivara National Park, in the state of Piaui in northeastern Brazil, protects an area of dry scrubland and sandstone cliffs that holds one of the largest concentrations of prehistoric rock art in the Americas. Thousands of painted sites show human and animal figures, hunting scenes and dances. The park was largely created through the work of the Brazilian archaeologist Niede Guidon, who studied the site for decades. Her team's excavations at Pedra Furada produced charcoal and stone tools that she argued were far older than the generally accepted date of human arrival in the Americas, a claim that remains controversial. The park became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

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