Ancient Landscapes of Amazonia: A Study of Pre-Colonial Processes and Contemporary Use at Macurany, Brazil

Summary

We analyze settlement organization and landscape modification at Macurany, a pre-Colonial terra preta site on the Middle Amazon River in Parintins, Brazil, within local and regional contexts. Pre-colonial land modifications dot the contemporary landscapes of Amazonia. Many such landscape features, such as anthrosols, elevated platforms, mounds, ramps, and riverine ports, are used today by contemporary inhabitants of Amazonia. New data gathered at Macurany reveals that ancient Amerindians altered the local landscape, creating ports and anthrosols. Topographic data sheds light on pre-colonial human-environment interactions and settlement organization at Macurany. Similarities with sites in the Central Amazon and Lower Amazon regions include anthrosols and ports, and possibly ring middens; Macurany is unique in the frequency and size of ports. Preliminary results suggest site organization was decentralized due to the spatial distribution, frequency, and size of the ports and depth and distribution of terra preta. Today, these ancient landscape features are managed and used by rural smallholders; although they may not knowingly engage with the past through these actions, they constitute a way of interacting with the material remains of the past. This analysis contributes toward an understanding of pre-colonial land modification and contemporary use of ancient landscape features in Amazonia.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

Keywords

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 22282