GEOARCHAEOLOGY OF SAMBAQUIS FROM THE NORTHERN COAST OF ESPIRITO SANTO: ARCHAEOLOGICAL MICROFACIES ANALYSIS (LINHARES - ES)

• Grant number: 25/04025-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: June 09, 2025
• End date: December 08, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Archeology - Prehistoric Archaeology
• Principal Investigator: Ximena Suarez Villagran
• Grantee: Vitor Santos Nunes
• Supervisor: Christopher Evan Miller
• Host Institution: Museu de Arqueologia e Etnologia (MAE). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/01401-3 - Geoarchaeology of Sambaquis on the North Coast of Espírito Santo: Archaeological Microfacies Analysis (Linhares - ES), BP.MS

Abstract

The study of shell middens (sambaquis) represents one of the most prominent topics in Brazilian archaeology, dating back to the establishment of the discipline in the country during the mid-19th century. Throughout its academic trajectory, different approaches have been applied to research the complex records preserved in these structures. Among these approaches, geoarchaeology has yielded positive results by incorporating methods and theoretical perspectives from earth sciences to obtain data and develop interpretations regarding the sites and their connection with paleoenvironmental aspects. In recent decades, the micromorphological analysis of archaeological soils and sediments has emerged as a highly applicable tool for understanding the formation processes of the archaeological record. This method facilitates greater detail and enhances the dialogue between field and microscopic observations. In the case of shell middens, where well-known stratigraphic complexity make it difficult to understand the formation processes, this tool demonstrates its full academic potential. The Geoarchaeology Working Group (University of Tübingen), stands out for its participation in global research (Europe, Africa, and the Americas), its collaboration with renowned research centers and funding agencies (e.g., NSF/USA; Research Council of Norway; SSHRC/Canada; ERC/EU; FAPESP/Brazil), and its educational role into academic community. They have been offering a high-quality training program in archaeological micromorphology, through course, access to renowned geoarchaeological thin sections collections, and utilizing cutting-edge research equipment (e.g., micro-FTIR, micro-XRF, and field analysis equipment). The present document outlines a proposal for an international academic internship with this research group, contributing to the development of a master's project supported by FAPESP, focusing on the study of sambaquis along the northern coast of Espirito Santo State.