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09:33
A Technical Perspective in Modern Tree-ring Research - How to Overcome Dendroecological and Wood Anatomical Challenges
Published on: March 5, 2015
Amazonia 1492: pristine forest or cultural parkland?
Michael J Heckenberger1, Afukaka Kuikuro, Urissapá Tabata Kuikuro
1Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. mheckenb@anthro.ufl.edu
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|September 23, 2003
Summary
Archaeological findings in Brazil's Upper Xingu reveal complex indigenous settlement patterns and significant landscape changes over the last millennium. This research highlights human impact on Amazonian environments and the importance of ancestral knowledge.
Area of Science:
- Amazonian Archaeology
- Indigenous History
- Environmental Science
Background:
- The Upper Xingu region in Brazil has a rich history of indigenous peoples.
- Understanding past human-environment interactions is crucial for Amazonian conservation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the settlement patterns and landscape transformations by Native Amazonian peoples in the Upper Xingu region.
- To contribute to the understanding of human carrying capacity and environmental impacts in the Amazon.
Main Methods:
- Archaeological mapping and excavation of prehistoric structures.
- Analysis of late-prehistoric settlements (circa 1200-1600 A.D.).
Main Results:
- Evidence of complex regional settlement patterns.
- Documentation of large-scale, human-induced landscape alterations, including forest cover changes.
- Identification of large, dense settlements from the late prehistoric period.
Conclusions:
- Indigenous peoples significantly transformed Amazonian landscapes over the past millennium.
- Past settlement dynamics and environmental impacts offer insights into human carrying capacity.
- The study underscores the importance of indigenous knowledge in understanding Amazonian ecological history.
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