The oldest date established, at Rio Vermelho, is 5,250 BP. Presently, the only rock art site on the island that has been officially recognised and therefore protected is at Costão Santinho.

Photographed right petroglyph site at Costão Santinho featuring a mask motif.

The carvings are predominantly ‘geometric’, the most common of which is the ‘mask’ motif, named thus because of the depiction of the ‘third eye’ symbol. This motif also occurs in the neighbouring islands.

Another geometric motif is represented by a series of points and small symmetrical carved lines, thought to have been used for calendar counting, including astronomical [solstice and equinox] calculations, based on the alignment of surrounding rocks.

Primitive geometry style - sketchy straight lines that are occasionally parallel, of a length between 10 and 30cms. This style also features on the beaches of Ingleses and Galheta and is common in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

Realist style – a carving of an enormous fish fully engraved into the granite, and blackened-out to form a silhouette without a single straight line. This appears to be unique.

Cupulas - carved in various shapes and sizes.

Human footprints - carved in several sizes. These are also found in Santinho, Gravatá, on the Island of Campeche and Pântano in the South.

Solar disk – carved into the rock, apparently depicting solstice events. This is also present at the site in Laguna.