A team of archaeologists and paleontologists in Brazil have made a fascinating discovery that suggests ancient artists may have been inspired by preserved dinosaur footprints. The researchers, affiliated with several institutions in Brazil, reported their findings in the journal Scientific Reports. The group studied petroglyphs made between 3,000 and 9,000 years ago at the Serrote do Letreiro site in eastern Brazil, an area known for preserving dinosaur footprints dating back as far as 40 million years ago.

The research team found a significant connection between the petroglyphs and dinosaur footprints, a rare occurrence in archaeological findings. The close relationship between the two suggests that the artwork created by local people thousands of years ago was likely inspired by the footprints. The large number of carvings near or next to the footprints indicates that the ancient artists were aware of them and placed importance on them. It is possible that the footprints, or the creatures assumed to have created them, became part of ancient rituals or ceremonies, as the site for their artwork was deliberately chosen due to the presence of the footprints.

Furthermore, the researchers suggest that the petroglyphs hint at the possibility that the artists who created them were using hallucinogens, as the carvings bear similarity to visions commonly reported by people using such drugs in the modern era.