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| Author(s): |
Rodrigo Santana Macedo
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Doctoral Thesis |
| Press: | Piracicaba. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC) |
| Defense date: | 2014-02-11 |
| Examining board members: |
Pablo Vidal Torrado;
Antonio Carlos de Azevedo;
Peter Buurman;
Marco Madella;
Wenceslau Geraldes Teixeira
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| Advisor: | Pablo Vidal Torrado |
| Abstract | |
A remarkable evidence of human occupation in Amazonian region is the existence of soils with dark colors and presence of ceramic materials, known as Indigenous Dark Earth (IDE). Despite of widely studied some of their features are still poorly understood, mainly that related to micromorphology, mineralogy and geochemical aspects. Such approach, in combination to phytolytic studies, is able to identify soil genesis processes and unravel the comprehension of occupation mechanisms of human. The aim of this study was to establish the hierarchy of these processes and their association with ancient activities of pre-Columbian populations. The research was carried out in the experimental site of Caldeirão, Iranduba city (Amazon state, Brazil). Two pedons containing surface anthropogenic horizons (P1 and P2) were directly compared to a non-anthropogenic soil (P3). In each soil horizon disturbed soil samples were sampled in order to perform physical, chemical, mineralogical and geochemical analyses. For phytolitic analyses samples were taken each 5 cm of depth. Micromorphological samples were studied in thin sections in the optical microscope and further analyzed in Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The chronology was accomplished after 14C dating. The microaggregates in anthropogenic horizon are related to geochemical and biological processes. The genesis of IDE implicates in the following mechanisms: i) disposal and burning of residues by humans (anthropization); ii) deepening A horizons and darkening subsurface horizons by bioturbation (cumulization and melanization processes); iii) dispersion and migration of colloidal particles leading to argiluviation process; iv) different condictions of environment that not occur nowdays (pedorelict - ferruginous nodules). Clay coatings with extinction bands and continuous orientation in the ceramic artifacts suggest a current argiluviation process. The degradation of Fe nodules enhances the xantization process also providing clay (source of clay). The prevalent soil genesis in non-anthropic soil is the elutriation. The degradation of Fe nodules in the IDE enhances the xantization process also providing clay (pedoplasmation). The number of phytoliths of Arecaceae and Cyperaceae is higher in IDE than non-IDE, mainly in the horizons with more ceramics. The phytolitic evidence demonstrate that activities anthropic was more intense in the P1. The rapid Si cycling, highlighted by the presence of phytoliths without complete silicification, contribute to stability of kaolinitic mineralogy. HIV, illite and variscite-strengite are constrained to IDE pedons. P2O5-CaO-K2O-NaO-Cs-Co-Zn-Cu-Ba-Rb-Ni represents the geochemical signature of IDE. The presence of maghemite, variscite-strengite and tridimite strengthen a mineral forming process linked to human activity. In ceramic materials there is a prevalence of phytoliths from cauixi (Tubella reticulata and Parnula betesil) and cariapé (Licania utilis). The presence of mica suggests an alloctone material for their manufacturing. Hence the anthropic horizons result from the addition of archeological artifacts and melanization of non-anthropic horizons. These activities chemically enriched and modify the geochemical signature of soil, as soon as promoted formation of minerals. The anthropic activities conducted the argiluviation and degradation of Fe nodules. During their evolution there was a clear addition of plant residues, notably related to palm trees and Cyperaceae species. (AU) | |