Lapa das boleiras rockshelter: stratigraphy and formation processes at a paleoamerican site in Central Brazil

Lapa das boleiras rockshelter: stratigraphy and formation processes at a paleoamerican site in Central Brazil

Lapa das Boleiras rockshelter, a Paleoamerican archaeological site in Central Brazil, was intensely occupied by humans from 10,000 14C BP (11.8 cal kyr BP), until approximately 7500 14C BP (8.4 cal kyr BP). In this paper we present some interpretations about the formation processes operating on the...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of archaeological science Vol. 35; no. 12; pp. 3186 - 3202
Main Authors: Araujo, Astolfo G.M., Feathers, James K., Arroyo-Kalin, Manuel, Tizuka, Michelle M.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2008
Elsevier
Subjects:
America and Arctic regions
Archaeology
Brazil
Geoarchaeology
Luminescence
Micromorphology
Paleoamerican
Preceramic cultures
Prehistory and protohistory
South America
American culture
South America
Brazil
America
Brazil
Paleoamerican
Archaeology
Geoarchaeology
Luminescence
Micromorphology
Hunter-gatherer
Rockshelter
Stratigraphy
Archaeological site
Geoarcheology
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Lapa das Boleiras rockshelter, a Paleoamerican archaeological site in Central Brazil, was intensely occupied by humans from 10,000 14C BP (11.8 cal kyr BP), until approximately 7500 14C BP (8.4 cal kyr BP). In this paper we present some interpretations about the formation processes operating on the site. One of our main conclusions is that the bulk of accumulated sediments at the site is of anthropogenic origin: they are constituted by volumetrically significant quantities of plant ash remains, what is somewhat unexpectedly in view of prevailing models about the lifestyle of Paleoamerican hunter–gatherers in South America. The evidence we discuss below is also consistent with paleoenvironmental data that suggest a dry period during the mid-Holocene in the region, probably leading to a decrease in human occupation [Araujo, A.G.M., Neves, W., Piló, L.B., Atui, J.P., 2005. Holocene dryness and human occupation in Brazil during the ‘Archaic Gap’. Quaternary Research 64, 298–307]. We surmise that both factors underpin a surprising reduction in sediment accumulation at the site during the mid-Holocene.
ISSN:0305-4403
1095-9238
DOI:10.1016/j.jas.2008.07.007