Emplacement and the Dynamics of Place-Making in the Teotônio waterfall, Madeira River Basin, Amazon

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Emplacement and Relational Approaches to the Ancient Americas" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The Madeira River Basin, southwestern Amazonia, provides a unique lens to examine how places, particularly waterfalls, function as historical agents in the emplacement and transformation of human dynamics. This study utilizes the concept of "emplacement" to investigate the role of the Teotônio waterfall in shaping human activities over long periods of time. The Teotônio waterfall is surrounded by several archaeological sites and it has historically served as a critical landmark influencing place-making processes. The waterfalls’ monumental presence appears to have exerted a significant influence on settlement patterns, ceremonial practices, and inter-group interactions. Archaeological evidence from the Teotônio site, with continuous occupation dating back at least 7,000 years cal. BP, reveals a complex interplay between human activities, the waterfall, animals and plants. While data suggest broader cultural changes in the indigenous societies, the Teotônio waterfall seems to be an active participant in all historical processes. The falls not only served as a geographical landmark but also as a symbolic and practical focal point in the formation of indigenous identities and regional interactions. By emphasizing the dynamic role of such geographical agents, we aim to enrich the understanding of places recontextualization and the continuous interplay between human societies and their environments.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• Emplacement and Relational Approaches to the Ancient Americas

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 52245