Among Land Snail Shells and Ashes: Geoarchaeological Analysis of the Maximiano Rockshelter, Southeast Brazil

Author(s)

Batalla, Nicolas ; Okumura, Mercedes ; Munita, Casimiro S. ; French, Charles ; Araujo, Astolfo G. M.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: GEOARCHAEOLOGY-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL; v. 40, n. 1, p. 35-pg., 2025-01-01.

Abstract

Geoarchaeological studies, particularly those incorporating micromorphology and associated techniques, have revealed the complex depositional and post-depositional history of mollusk shell-matrix archaeological sites, mostly in coastal areas where these sites are more widespread. But geoarchaeology can also be crucial to disentangle human and natural agencies in inland shell-rich settings, including caves and rock-shelters. In this paper, the site formation processes of the land snail-rich Maximiano Rockshelter, located in the karstic upper Ribeira de Iguape River valley of southern Sao Paulo state, Southeast of Brazil, are tackled. Embedded in the neotropical Atlantic Forest, the site contains lithics, bone artifacts, and faunal and human remains dating between similar to 11,165 and 1282 cal year B.P. Facies and microfacies were characterized in exposed stratigraphic profiles through micromorphology, particle size analysis, major, minor, and trace elements, and FTIR spectroscopy. Despite the strong humification affecting most of the site, results indicate deposits resulting from anthropic activities such as the dumping of land snail shells and other remains, the tossing of entire and fragmented shells in sub-horizontally distributed layers, primary combustion features, and dumping/sweeping of combustion-derived materials. Shell-bearing facies exhibit similarities with chronologically contemporaneous Ribeira de Iguape basin's riverine sambaquis. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/18664-9 - The human occupation of southeast South America through the Holocene: an interdisciplinary, multiescalar and diacronic approach
• Grantee: Astolfo Gomes de Mello Araujo
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/23282-5 - Change and continuity in prehistoric human groups from Ribeira de Iguape Valley (São Paulo and Paraná): applying evolutionary theory to bioarchaeology and material culture
• Grantee: Maria Mercedes Martinez Okumura
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 23/18132-2 - Cultural changes in Central Brazil: high-resolution geoarchaeology at Gruta do Gentio II and Lapa do Boquete, MG
• Grantee: Arlys Nicolás Batalla Crossa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 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
• Grantee: Arlys Nicolás Batalla Crossa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 18/14293-3 - Human-environment interactions in different sites through time: Geochemical approach to the formation of Abrigo do Alvo, Abrigo Roncador, and Abrigo Maximiano rockshelters
• Grantee: Arlys Nicolás Batalla Crossa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 13/13794-5 - The Paleoindian occupation of São Paulo State: a geoarchaeological approach
• Grantee: Astolfo Gomes de Mello Araujo
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants