Pig-Like Beast Leads the Way to Ancient Cave Drawings

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Researchers surveying pig-like animals called peccaries in Brazil discovered inadvertently discovered ancient drawings of animals, like the reptile shown here. Credit: Alexine Keuroghlian/WCS View full size image

White-lipped peccaries may not be glamorous-looking, but like their truffle-sniffing cousins, they sometimes turn up treasure.

On the trail of the pig-like creatures in Brazil, researchers made an unexpected and rare discovery: cave drawings showing armadillos, birds and reptiles, etched into stone thousands of years ago.

Archaeologists who examined the rock art say hunter-gatherers likely created the drawings between 4,000 and 10,000 years ago. [Photos of Amazing Cave Art]