Fabricio Souza Neves, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brasil.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8725-4526
Abstract: Petroglyphs have been identified at numerous archaeological sites along the coast of Santa Catarina state in southern Brazil. However, these sites are predominantly concentrated along the eastern coast of Santa Catarina Island and the adjacent eastern islets. It is hypothesized that these structures were erected by the Sambaqui people, who are believed to have constructed shellmounds in the region approximately 8,000–1,000 years ago. The precise significance of these structures remains to be fully elucidated. This study presents evidence indicating the use of one of the sets of petroglyphs found at Spider's Hill, on Santinho's Beach (Santa Catarina Island, Brazil), as an astronomic calendar.
Keywords: Petroglyph, Shellmound, Astronomic Calendar, Brazil, Sambaqui.
Received Aug 13, 2025, Accepted Sep 15, 2025, Published Nov 14, 2025.
References
Cardoso, J.M., Merencio, F., Villagran, X., Wesolowski, V., Estevam, R. et al. (2024). Late shellmound occupation in southern Brazil: A multi-proxy study of the Galheta IV archaeological site. PLoS ONE, 19(3): e0300684. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0300684
Colonese, A.C., McGrath, K.M., Fossile, T. et al. (2025). New insights into the formation process and chronology of the Sambaqui Morro do Ouro, Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Bol. Mus. Para. Emílio Goeldi. Cienc. Hum, 20; 2. https://eref.cirex.id/6uguj
Comerlato, F. (2005). As representações rupestres no estado de Santa Catarina. Ohun, 2: 150-164. https://eref.cirex.id/1lswe
DeBlasis, P., Gaspar, M., Kneip, A. (2021). Sambaquis from the Southern Brazilian Coast: Landscape Building and Enduring Heterarchical Societies throughout the Holocene. Land, 10; 757. https://doi.org/10.3390/land10070757
Gaspar, M.D., Deblasis, P., Fish, S.K., Fish, P.R. (2009). Sambaqui (Shell Mound) societies of coastal Brazil. In: eds. Helaine Silverman and William H. Isabell. Handbook of South American Archeology. Springer, New York. 319-335. https://eref.cirex.id/ey5go
Guardiola, E.U., Alsina, J. L. F., Rego, J.V. (2014). The Influence of Religious and Cosmological Beliefs on the Solar Architecture of the Ancient World. International Journal of Architectural Engineering Technology, 1: 3-11. https://eref.cirex.id/2bcvp
MacKie, E. (2012). A New Look at the Astronomy and Geometry of Stonehenge. Culture and Cosmos, 16: 89-107. https://eref.cirex.id/s0evj
Malville, J.C. (2011). Astronomy and ceremony at Chankillo: An Andean perspective. Proceedings of the International Astronomy Union, 278; 154,161. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1743921311012579
Okumura, M.M., Eggers, S. (2005). The people of Jabuticabeira II: reconstruction of the way of life in a Brazilian shellmound. Homo, 55; 263-281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchb.2004.10.001
Rohr, J.A. (1969). Petroglifos da Ilha de Santa Catarina e ilhas adjacentes. Pesquisas. Instituto Anchetiano de Pesquisas, 19: 1-32. https://eref.cirex.id/6tg78
Ruggles, C. (1997). Astronomy and Stonehenge. Proceedings of the British Academy, 92, 203-229. https://eref.cirex.id/c2kc7
Silva, A.S.N.F., Rocha, L.C.M., Navarro, A.G. (2002). A short history on studies with lithic industries in shellmounds in Brazil. Tessituras Revista de Antropologia e Arqueologia, 219-238.
Wagner, G., Hilbert, K., Bandeira, D., Tenório, M.C., Okumura, M.M. (2011). Sambaquis (shell mounds) of the Brazilian coast. Quarterly International, 239: 51-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2011.03.009
Zawaski, M.J., Malville, J.M. (2008). An archeoastronomy survey of major Inca sites in Peru. Archeosatronomy, 21; 20-38. https://eref.cirex.id/mm2um