Catherine Hefner visits Little Sister Island
Rock Art of Santa Catarina Southern Brazil

The Bradshaw Foundation sent their Project Controller Cathy Hefner Urice to meet Keler Lucas so he could show her the amazing discovery he made last year on Little Sister Island, an island just south of Campeche which had never been visited by archaeologist before. Her misson was to take a rubbing of the Mask when she was there. Landing on Little Sister Island is treacherous because the boat can not get close enough for visitors to land on the rocks, so it is necessary to swim ashore. Keler and Cathy visited last years amazing discovery, now named the King's Mask. Unfortunately the rubbing did not go well due to the deterioration of the rock, however good photographs were obtained.

King's Mask Click for Enlargements

Campeche Island

Although Keler Lucas has managed after many years to persuade the Brazilian Government to declare Campeche a National Heritage Park the petroglyphs are still subject to abuse from tourists. Not until the island becomes a guided sancturary will these incredible works of Rock Art be protected and preserved for all time.

Ilho Do Papagaio

Keler had been informed that there could be rock art on this island by a friend of his, so he chose this island to explore with Cathy. They were extremely fortunate and made a new discovery of an extremely well preserved piece of rock art inside a rock cave, that Keler named "God's Eye".

When Keler used his compass inside the cave it went haywire, something that he has noticed at other sacred places. Cathy got a very good rubbing as well as a good photograph. Cathy discovered another carving in a cave near by the "God's Eye" which she named "Fingerprint".

Outside the area of the caves found other carvings including carved "Footprints", and carved arrows pointing to the sacred place. Keler spotted an almost vanished carving that looked to be of a mask with parallel lines.

Ilho Do Papagaio Click for Enlargements

Summary Cathy's visit on befhalf of the Bradshaw Foundation was reported in the local newspaper so hopefully this will give Keler Lucas some new leverage when he meets the Minister of Culture. The problem of preservation and protection of the rock art in the Florianopolis area is typical of many Rock Art sites around the world. A lack of Government interest and funds seems to be the main issue. Tourism can fund the protection of some sites, but Visitors often cause more problems than the money they spend can solve.
		God's Eye Click for Enlargement