Formation processes of Amazonian dark earth in the city of Iranduba - AM

• Grant number: 12/06064-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: September 01, 2012
• End date: April 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Pablo Vidal Torrado
• Grantee: Rodrigo Santana Macedo
• Supervisor: Marco Madella
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Spain

Abstract

One the marks left by phehistoric man in the Amazon landscape are patches of dark colored soils rich in organic matter, phosphorus, calcium, zinc and manganese and showing remains of archaeological materials (ceramics fragments and/or lithics artifacts) known as Amazonian Dark Earth (ADE). Many questions are still not fully answered in relation to the origin, distribution, variation and past use and potential of these areas. Currently, besides to value its archaeological/anthropological importance, these areas are focused by a variety of disciplines as an essential component of the discussions of sustainable processes in the Amazon. Assuming that different human activities have resulted in different individuals ADE, this research pedoarchaeological will try to understand the main processes involved in the genesis and evolution of these soils, testing the hypothesis that the identification of minerals formed and/or altered by fire may to indicate a purpose of burning, and that combined with the analysis of phytoliths, will allow the understanding of the ways of use and/or occupation of land by pre-Columbian populations (cultural signature). For this, will be performed chemical analysis, mineralogical, micromorphological, isotopic, of opal phytolith and 14C dating in the Caldeirão Experimental Field, Iranduba - AM, due the presence of typical anthropic horizon in this area. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MACEDO, RODRIGO S.; TEIXEIRA, WENCESLAU G.; CORREA, MARCELO M.; MARTINS, GILVAN C.; VIDAL-TORRADO, PABLO. Pedogenetic processes in anthrosols with pretic horizon (Amazonian Dark Earth) in Central Amazon, Brazil. PLoS One, v. 12, n. 5, MAY 23 2017. (12/06064-8)