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Archaeological Evidence of the Development of a Regional Society in Santarém (AD 1000–1600), Lower Amazon: A Path to Understanding Social Complexity

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Abstract

This article sets out to broaden our knowledge of the sociopolitical dynamics of Santarém (AD 1000–1600), a regional society in the Lower Amazon, by synthesizing the existing archaeological data relating to settlement patterns, ritual ceramics, prestige goods and chronology, as well as exploring aspects linked to the technology of ceramic production at the Carapanari site, a small-scale community located in the region during the late precolonial period. Using an integrated approach, the research combines a techno-functional analysis of a sample basically composed of ceramic fragments, providing information on the original forms and possible uses, with microscopy and compositional analyses of fragments based on instrumental neutron activation analysis. This enables the identification of technological choices, processes of innovation and behavioral changes, also present at other sites in the region that are expressed over time. The set of information presented here engages with recent debates on the emergence of complex societies, providing some insight into the historical development of this polity in Amazonia during the late precolonial period.

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(Adapted from Gomes, 2002)

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(Adapted from Gomes, 2002); b Globular vessel excavated at unit 3, Carapanari site, which demonstrates morphological variability of the artefact, whose body is composed of 2 parts. Photo: Author

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(Adapted from Gomes, 2002). a Fragment of a caryatid vessel found at the Carapanari site, showing iconographic variability; b fragment of a medial flange associated with a caryatid vessel. Museu Nacional-UFRJ. Photo: Author

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Availability of Data Material

The entire ceramic and lithic collection of 31 sites of Santarém region was lost during the huge fire that destroyed the Museu Nacional (UFRJ) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on September 2, 2018. The documentation relating to these sites, in digital format, on which the present text is based, is under the responsibility of the first author.

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Acknowledgements

CNPq—National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (Process 473224/2006-2) and FAPESP - Research Support Foundation of the State of São Paulo (Process 08/58701-6) provided financial assistance to the primary author. We express our gratitude to Hélcio Amaral de Souza (in memoriam) for his logistical support during the fieldwork phase. Our thanks to Manoela Woitovicz, collections manager of the Herpetology Sector of the Department of Vertebrates of the Museu Nacional-UFRJ, for the photos taken with the Leica M205C stereomicroscope, coupled to the Leica DFC 45P camera, equipment acquired with funding from CNPq (Universal 14/2013). We also thank Tiago Alves da Silva Muniz for performing the calculations of the volumetric capacities of the graphically reconstructed vessels. Special thanks are due to Professor Timothy Taylor for his valuable suggestions and support.

Funding

This study was funded by CNPq – National Council for Scientific and Technological Development – (Process 473224/2006-2) and FAPESP – Research Support Foundation of the State of São Paulo – Fapesp (Process 08/58701-6) provided financial assistance to first author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Antropologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Arqueologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Museu Nacional, Rua General Herculano Gomes, Horto Botânico, Prédio da Biblioteca, São Cristóvão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20940-040, Brazil

    Denise Maria Cavalcante Gomes

  2. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Arqueologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Museu Nacional, Rua General Herculano Gomes, Horto Botânico, Prédio da Biblioteca, São Cristóvão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20940-040, Brazil

    Angislaine Freitas Costa & João Paulo Lopes da Cunha

  3. Nuclear and Energy Research Institute – IPEN – CNES, Av. Lineu Prestes, 2242, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil

    Casimiro Sepúlveda Munita

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  1. Denise Maria Cavalcante Gomes
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  2. Angislaine Freitas Costa
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  3. Casimiro Sepúlveda Munita
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  4. João Paulo Lopes da Cunha
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Correspondence to Denise Maria Cavalcante Gomes.

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Gomes, D.M.C., Costa, A.F., Munita, C.S. et al. Archaeological Evidence of the Development of a Regional Society in Santarém (AD 1000–1600), Lower Amazon: A Path to Understanding Social Complexity. J World Prehist 36, 147–189 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10963-023-09177-3

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