Lithic Workshops at Frenchman's Island: 5,000 Years of History in Floripa

The Millenary Secret on the Sea of Canasvieiras

If you are planning a paddle to Frenchman's Island (Ilha do Francês), prepare for more than just crystal-clear waters. Beneath the island's rocky shores lies a historical treasure of 5,000 years: the Lithic Workshops.

Frenchman's Island is much more than natural beauty; it is an archaeological site. Among the granite rock formations on the island’s southwest side are the famous Lithic Workshops.

We, at Adventure in Floripa, invite you to paddle with us and uncover the mystery of these vestiges and why they are crucial to understanding the pre-history of Santa Catarina.

The Lithic Workshops of Florianópolis are a true portal to the past! 🕰️ Each cavity in the rock is fascinating evidence of the Sambaqui and Guarani peoples who inhabited our island long before the arrival of Europeans. Here, they polished and sharpened their stone tools, leaving eternal marks of their existence.

What Are Lithic Workshops? Where the Past Was Forged

The Lithic Workshops are living proof of the intelligence and adaptation of the ancient peoples who inhabited the coastline. They were not simple holes; they were fixed work sites used by pre-colonial populations, known as the Sambaqui People.

How to Identify and What Were They Used For?

Lithic Workshops are easily identified as depressions, grooves, and friezes carved into hard rocks like basalt or granite, such as those found on Frenchman's Island.

• Production Benches: They served as natural "benches" for the crafting and polishing of stone tools.

• Survival Tools: They were used to sharpen and shape essential artifacts like axes, spear tips, and grinding instruments.

• The Process: Ancient peoples used sand and water for abrasion against the rock, leaving the distinct marks we see today.

The Historical Significance of Frenchman's Island

The presence of these vestiges on Frenchman's Island is not coincidental. It proves that the small island, close to Canasvieiras Beach, was a:

1. Strategic Production Point: A safe and isolated place for processing hunting and fishing materials, away from the main villages on the mainland.

2. Harmony with the Sea: It demonstrates how ancestral peoples lived in perfect synchronicity with the marine and terrestrial ecosystems of the region.

3. SC Heritage: Just like other important archaeological sites in Florianópolis, this location must be protected.

Conscious Ecotourism: How to Preserve This Treasure?

When visiting Frenchman's Island on your kayak or SUP tour, remember that you are at an Archaeological Site. Preservation is everyone’s responsibility.

Our Golden Rules:

• Look Only: Touching, stepping on, or walking over the workshops can damage them permanently.

• Do Not Remove: It is forbidden to remove any material, be it stone, shell, or plant remains.

• Follow the Guide: Our instructors are trained to point out the vestiges and ensure the visit is safe and non-invasive.

📲 Paddle Through History!

How about having a guided, cultural experience that goes beyond natural beauty? Our guides are passionate about Floripa's history and can show you up close where these millenary vestiges are located, all while you paddle safely in the calm waters of Canasvieiras.

Choose your modality (Kayak or SUP) and book your cultural adventure to Frenchman's Island!

Move. Connect!

Experience Floripa's history with us.