Introduction

Abstract

In the past two centuries, the Lagoa Santa Karst has been intensely explored by paleontologists and archaeologists, given the richness of the fossiliferous and archaeological record on the local caves and rockshelters. This chapter introduces and briefly describes the chapters that compose the volume and highlights how the multidisciplinary nature of the research in the region contributed to make Lagoa Santa one of the most important archaeological regions in Brazil and South America in general. The book is divided into two parts. The first consists of chapters referring to each one of the great research interventions that took place in the region, beginning with the work of Peter Lund and culminating with the most recent intervention in the region. The second part of the book consists of synthetic reviews of important topics for research in the region such as migration, health, mortuary rituals, paleontology, rock paintings, lithic technology, and geoarchaeology. Together, the 17 chapters of this volume bring for the first time a comprehensive review of the archaeological work in Lagoa Santa to the international public.