Investigating plant management in the Monte Castelo (RondoÌnia-Brazil) and TucumaÌ (ParaÌ-Brazil) shell mound using phytoliths analysis
Shell mound or sambaqui, as commonly named in Brazil, are anthropic intentional mound constructions made by complex hunter-gatherer fishing communities. Typically distributed along shorelines and inland regions of Brazil, these sites are arguably one of the earliest evidence of human presence in South America, with dates ranging from 910-660 to 10,179-9,708 cal. yr. B.P. As archaeobotanical investigations reported the presence of various plant resources in these sites, a debate that has received much attention in recent years is regarding the scale of which the shell mound builders managed these resources. The Monte Castelo (9,495-9,137 cal. yr. B.P - state of RondoÌnia) and the TucumaÌ shell mound (4,425-4245 cal. yr. B.P. - state of ParaÌ) will be the case studies of this research. The aim of this thesis is to use phytolith data from archaeological contexts in order to evaluate and discern the extent to which these mound builders managed plant resources. The outcome of this study provides novel evidence revealing the management and consumption of wild and domesticated plants through the mid-Holocene. The data calls for an evaluation on the potential scale of horticulture practices by Amazonian shell mound
Hilbert, Lautaro Maximilian
Phytolith ; Archaeology ; Amazonia ; Shell Mound
Investigating plant management in the Monte Castelo (RondoÌnia-Brazil) and TucumaÌ (ParaÌ-Brazil) shell mound using phytoliths analysis. Shell mound or sambaqui, as commonly named in Brazil, are anthropic intentional mound constructions made by complex hunter-gatherer fishing communities. Typically distributed along shorelines and inland regions of Brazil, these sites are arguably one of the earliest evidence of human presence in South America, with dates ranging from 910-660 to 10,179-9,708 cal. yr. B.P. As archaeobotanical investigations reported the presence of various plant resources in these sites, a debate that has received much attention in recent years is regarding the scale of which the shell mound builders managed these resources. The Monte Castelo (9,495-9,137 cal. yr. B.P - state of RondoÌnia) and the TucumaÌ shell mound (4,425-4245 cal. yr. B.P. - state of ParaÌ) will be the case studies of this research. The aim of this thesis is to use phytolith data from archaeological contexts in order to evaluate and discern the extent to which these mound builders managed plant resources. The outcome of this study provides novel evidence revealing the management and consumption of wild and domesticated plants through the mid-Holocene. The data calls for an evaluation on the potential scale of horticulture practices by Amazonian shell mound
investigating plant management brazil brazil shell_mound use phytoliths analysis shell_mound commonly name brazil anthropic intentional mound construction make complex_hunter gatherer fishing community typically distribute along inland region brazil sit arguably early_evidence human presence south_america date_range cal archaeobotanical_investigation report presence various plant resource site debate receive_much_attention regard scale shell_mound builder manage resource cal state shell_mound cal state case_study research aim use phytolith data archaeological_context order_evaluate discern extent mound builder manage plant resource outcome study provide_novel evidence reveal management consumption wild domesticated plant mid_holocene data call evaluation potential scale horticulture practice amazonian shell_mound