Carved wall
Undeciphered symbols.
Zelma Brito — CC BY-SA 3.0 · MTur Destinos — Public domain · GLandovsky — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Leonardo H Chaves — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Zelma Brito — CC BY-SA 3.0
The Ingá Stone, or «Itacoatiara do Ingá», the «carved stone» in Tupi, is a gneiss outcrop in the middle of the Ingá River near the town of the same name, about 96 km from João Pessoa. On its vertical face, 46 metres long and 3.8 metres high, and on the rocks around it, symbols whose meaning is still unknown are carved in low relief: shapes resembling animals, fruit and people, and others in which some researchers see Orion and the Milky Way. Scholars think it was made by indigenous people who lived in the area, but there is no agreement on its age or meaning, which has made the site the subject of many theories, some serious astronomy and some fantasy. The national heritage body protected it in 1944, yet it remains at risk from vandals. There is a small museum on site, and admission includes a guide who explains the carvings. Visitors report that it opens in the mornings and closes on Mondays, so check before going. It is visited as a day trip from João Pessoa or on the way to Campina Grande.
Undeciphered symbols.
Orion and the Milky Way?
On site.
Sítio Pedra do Ingá, near the town of Ingá, Paraíba
About 96 km; it makes a day trip, and admission includes a guide.