Designs and Meaning

Marajoara designs are in general geometric and appear to be astract to most of the observers.  However, they depict mithological beings, mirrored on the local fauna.   Snakes, caimans, lizards, vultures, owls, turtles, monkeys and scorpions are the most common themes, portraited on a variety of objects.  The animals are representated both on three-dimensional and bi-dimensional media, so the comparison between make it possible to recognize the themes on the geometric designs. Although we can not assign specific meanings to the designs, it is possible to show what they represent, and compare the subject with themes of Amazonian mythology. Here we will show some of the possibilities we have explored with Marajoara Iconography.

Snake Skin Patterns

The Marajoara, as many other amazonian peoples, may have believed that an ancestral snake was their protector, and cared for their well-being.  They may have thought the snake was responsible for the abundance of fish, their main source of protein.  The mythological snake would have protected the fish and assured their reproduction.  Snake sking patterns can be found on virtually any pottery object, following consistent trends and associations of designs.

The snakes have in general a triangular head (as the popular known jararaca), and their skin is marked by characteristic designs.

In most cases, the snake-skin patterns consist of two elements that are repeated along a band, generally placed around the vessel, close to the mouth. They also are used on tangas, as shown below.

Designs on Tangas

Some scholars noticed that the variation of designs on decorated tangas followed some consistent patterns, possibly of symbolic significance.  Meggers and Evans idea that the patterns had social and religious meanings was further developed by Schaan, studying their iconography.  It is suggested that the three decorative fields conveyed different messages, the first one related to age, the second one related to tribal affiliation or lineage (snake skin patterns) and the third one to family or group membership.

Female Pubic Covering (Colors were added to show the different decorative fields)

The studies performed on tangas, so far, have pointed to their gender, age, and social status significance.  Their widespread occurrence in the archaeological record, therefore, would make it possible to access female’s presence and activities in Marajoara mounds.