ABSTRACT
Northeast Brazil is rich in prehistoric archaeological sites, most of them presenting paintings and engravings. The majority are located in the open-air, consisting mostly of sandstone rock shelters. Many rock-art panels are at risk through natural action linked to the weather, or by human action. However, for more than 20 years, conservation work has taken place in an attempt to slow down the disappearance of such important evidence of past human presence in the region. It began in Serra da Capivara National Park, situated in the northeastern state of Piauí, which arguably contains the highest concentration of archaeological sites in the country. So far, more than 1,300 archaeological sites have been registered in the Park. Although the interventions were aimed at the conservation of rock-art sites, the original purpose was somewhat different. In the beginning of 1985, an attempt was made to directly trace the paintings at the site of Toca da Entrada do Baixão da Vaca using plastic sheeting and felt-tip markers. The work was unsuccessful because of the large amount of insect nests (predominantly wasps) covering the main panel, making it difficult to visualize the paintings. It was decided to remove these deposits mechanically, using soft brushes and wooden spatulas made by a local craftsman specifically for this task. After removal, it was possible to observe more than 280 figures that had not been previously recorded because they were covered by wasp clay deposits, and direct tracing of the paintings could finally be carried out. Only a few years later, in 1991, conservation work began systematically in the Park and continued through to 2009. During this period, conservation interventions expanded to include other rock-art sites located in neighbouring regions.
