Human-environment interactions in different sites through time: Geochemical approach to the formation of Abrigo do Alvo, Abrigo Roncador, and Abrigo Maximiano rockshelters

• Grant number: 18/14293-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: October 01, 2018
• End date: February 28, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Archeology
• Principal Investigator: Astolfo Gomes de Mello Araujo
• Grantee: Arlys Nicolás Batalla Crossa
• Host Institution: Museu de Arqueologia e Etnologia (MAE). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 20/04283-0 - Anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic sediments in rock shelter settings: using micromorphology and mineralogical analysis to tackle formation processes in Abrigo do Alvo, Abrigo Roncador and Abrigo Maximiano archaeological sites, São Paulo state, Brazil, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Humans contribute both intentionally and incidentally to the formation and transformation of the environment in which they live. Such contributions include manufacturing objects and constructions that are usually the major focus of archaeologists, as well as sediments and soils. The present PhD project aims to understand the interaction between people and sediments and soils by means of a geoarchaeological approach to archaeological site formation processes in three rockshelters located in São Paulo state. This proposal is articulated in two case studies: 1) comparison of depositional and post-depositional processes in the Abrigo do Alvo and Abrigo Roncador rockshelters, located within the Analândia municipality; 2) the study of anthropogenic contributions to the sediments of the Abrigo Maximiano rockshelter, located in the Iporanga municipality. Methods proposed are based on Geochemistry, by means of a multi-technique comparative analysis of sediment samples from inside and outside the rockshelters. The use of Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) for elemental determination, and of X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) for mineral composition, is proposed. Other methods may also be integrated according to each case study. The increasing need to use Geochemical techniques in archaeology, as well as the scarcity of geoarchaeologists trained in these techniques in Brazil, justify this project. (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)

CASIMIRO S MUNITA; NICOLÁS BATALLA; ANGISLAINE FREITAS COSTA; JOANNA F. BARROS; ANDRÉ LUIZ NOGUEIRA; PATRÍCIA R. CARVALHO; PRISCILLA RAMOS CARVALHO. Explorando problemas arqueológicos com técnicas físico-químicas: a trajetória do Grupo de Estudos Arqueométricos do Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, São Paulo, Brasil. Bol. Mus. Para. Emílio Goeldi. Ciênc. hum., v. 15, n. 3, 2020-09-30. (18/14293-3)

BATALLA, NICOLAS; OKUMURA, MERCEDES; MUNITA, CASIMIRO S.; FRENCH, CHARLES; ARAUJO, ASTOLFO G. M.. Among Land Snail Shells and Ashes: Geoarchaeological Analysis of the Maximiano Rockshelter, Southeast Brazil. GEOARCHAEOLOGY-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, v. 40, n. 1, p. 35-pg., 2025-01-01. (19/18664-9, 18/23282-5, 23/18132-2, 20/04283-0, 18/14293-3, 13/13794-5)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

CROSSA, Arlys Nicolás Batalla. Anthropogenic signals in sandstone and calcareous rockshelter archaeological sites in the Ribeira de Iguape valley and the Corumbataí river basin, SP, Brazil: A georchaeological approach. 2023. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Museu de Arqueologia e Etnologia (MAE) São Paulo.