Brazil’s Cave of Bones is starting to give up some of its secrets after an expedition in September 2025.
Located in a remote part of Brazil, the cave is home to many bones. One of the human bones found had been dated at 11,000 years old.
The project to explore the site brought together archaeologists, geologists, dry cavers and a documentary crew. In total 26 people are involved in the project, with the dive team being made up of six cave divers. The team used Closed Circuit Rebreathers (CCRs), which offered crucial logistical advantages and prevented bubbles that could disturb sediment in the rarely visited cave, according to an account on Divernet.com.
“During the initial expedition, our main objective was to build a 3D photogrammetric model of the cave’s main chamber, home to ancient human remains. Over three days, the team spent 18 hours underwater per diver and captured 10,000 images, carefully marking and scanning the site.”
After modeling, the team moved on to recovering bones, meticulously documenting each find and using weighted mesh bags and crates to transport even the smallest fragments out of the cave.
In total, the team recovered around 400 bones, including several human skulls and skeletons, as well as animal remains such as a tapir and a giant rodent skull.
Carbon dating testing showed that the human remains were about 11,000 years old, while animal bones ranged from 8,000 to 100,000 years old. Interestingly, the positioning of some skeletons suggested deliberate burial rituals, indicating organized community activity in Brazil over a thousand years ago.
