Marajoara people dig out
milenar ceramic jars to store
drinking water.
This practice reflects not only
the lack of education on the
importance of preserving the
prehistoric heritage, but also
the miserable conditions under
which most of the Amazonian
populations live.
milenar ceramic jars to store
drinking water.
This practice reflects not only
the lack of education on the
importance of preserving the
prehistoric heritage, but also
the miserable conditions under
which most of the Amazonian
populations live.
Preserving Ancient Cultures
The Marajoara Culture is today a symbol of the native cultures in the State of Pará. There, several groups of potters
produce replicas of archaeological pottery for sale, disseminating the cultural information and attracting tourists. In fact,
the origins of the present Amazonian culture can be traced back to the indigenous occupation, which, in some aspects,
is preserved in the modern way of life. However, little is known about the ancient indigenous cultures, and there is not
an understanding, among the general public, that the archaeological remains are the only way to access information on
preliterate societies. People are not aware that the information about the past is lost when the archaeological artifacts
are taken out of their contexts, the archaeological site, without having being properly recorded.
Preserving archaeological sites is important because it makes possible a variety of studies that will improve our
understanding of the past. Moreover, new technologies may, in the future, optimize the investigations, creating less
destructive ways to find out about the past. An example of that are the geophysical survey techniques, which allow
scholars to identify archaeological features in subsurface layers without the need for extensive excavations.
produce replicas of archaeological pottery for sale, disseminating the cultural information and attracting tourists. In fact,
the origins of the present Amazonian culture can be traced back to the indigenous occupation, which, in some aspects,
is preserved in the modern way of life. However, little is known about the ancient indigenous cultures, and there is not
an understanding, among the general public, that the archaeological remains are the only way to access information on
preliterate societies. People are not aware that the information about the past is lost when the archaeological artifacts
are taken out of their contexts, the archaeological site, without having being properly recorded.
Preserving archaeological sites is important because it makes possible a variety of studies that will improve our
understanding of the past. Moreover, new technologies may, in the future, optimize the investigations, creating less
destructive ways to find out about the past. An example of that are the geophysical survey techniques, which allow
scholars to identify archaeological features in subsurface layers without the need for extensive excavations.
Looting
During previous decades, explorers and looters excavated Marajoara mounds in search of ceremonial pottery. They
systematically destroyed many of the larger and most important Marajoara mounds, some with areas of nearly 3
hectares and heights as great as 12 meters. The looters came soon after the first naturalists and scientists in the 19th
century, and intensified their activities during the second half of the 20th century. But the destruction of the
archaeological mounds reached unprecedented levels after the creation of laws to protect the archaeological heritage.
In part due to the non-existence of law enforcement in remote areas of Marajo Island, funerary vessels have been
systematically excavated and sold in Brazil, United States and Europe. Currently, there are several private collections
in Belém and Marajo that are not available for study and do not have any registration in the IPHAN - Instituto do
Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional (National Institute of the Historic and Artistic Patrimony), although it is
required by law.
systematically destroyed many of the larger and most important Marajoara mounds, some with areas of nearly 3
hectares and heights as great as 12 meters. The looters came soon after the first naturalists and scientists in the 19th
century, and intensified their activities during the second half of the 20th century. But the destruction of the
archaeological mounds reached unprecedented levels after the creation of laws to protect the archaeological heritage.
In part due to the non-existence of law enforcement in remote areas of Marajo Island, funerary vessels have been
systematically excavated and sold in Brazil, United States and Europe. Currently, there are several private collections
in Belém and Marajo that are not available for study and do not have any registration in the IPHAN - Instituto do
Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional (National Institute of the Historic and Artistic Patrimony), although it is
required by law.
Sustainable Future
During thousands of years, human populations occupied Amazonia, developing subsistence strategies and managing
forest resources, as well as integrating their societies with the natural environment. They used their knowledge of the
natural world to produce drugs, to manage game populations and to both improve and cultivate the soils. Although
indigenous groups today preserve part of that knowledge, the ancient social organization, subsistence strategies, and
practices of soil management may have been lost forever. Archaeologists, however, can study many aspects of the
indigenous way of life, and use that knowledge to help construct and manage a sustainable future for Amazonian
peoples. Basically, studying the information left behind by prehistoric peoples can teach us more integrated and less
destructive ways to exploit the natural resources.
In this sense, archaeology can do more than to just tell stories about the past. The past can be used to critically and
objectively think about the present as well as to plan the future. The prehistoric ceramics should not only be admired
for its aesthetic qualities, but should be useful to provide the necessary link between the present people and their
origins, helping building a social and cultural identity that can, effectively, improve and transform the life of present day
Amazonian populations.
forest resources, as well as integrating their societies with the natural environment. They used their knowledge of the
natural world to produce drugs, to manage game populations and to both improve and cultivate the soils. Although
indigenous groups today preserve part of that knowledge, the ancient social organization, subsistence strategies, and
practices of soil management may have been lost forever. Archaeologists, however, can study many aspects of the
indigenous way of life, and use that knowledge to help construct and manage a sustainable future for Amazonian
peoples. Basically, studying the information left behind by prehistoric peoples can teach us more integrated and less
destructive ways to exploit the natural resources.
In this sense, archaeology can do more than to just tell stories about the past. The past can be used to critically and
objectively think about the present as well as to plan the future. The prehistoric ceramics should not only be admired
for its aesthetic qualities, but should be useful to provide the necessary link between the present people and their
origins, helping building a social and cultural identity that can, effectively, improve and transform the life of present day
Amazonian populations.
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