Posted by Rachel
The Brazilian Northeast is known for its wealth of archaeological sites, and new sites have been found in the state of Roraima. While local archaeologists face a lack of financial resources, they have found some interesting artifacts.
Photo: Ari Silva/Globo
The latest discovery dates back 4,000 years, and now forms part of 80 sites in Roraima, which are among the least known in the country. About 1,200 years ago, the area was populated by the Rupununi tribe, which occupied the area near the border with Guyana. According to archaeological evidence, this tribe still lived in the region when the Europeans first arrived, and traded with them (some artifacts found are of European origin). Some of the evidence includes funeral urns, along with personal objects buried with them, as well as cave drawings.
While tribes in the savana region of the state are thought to be related to Caribbean tribes, the tribes in the south of the state are thought to be related to tribes from the Rio Negro region, though this theory is yet to be confirmed.
Posted by Rachel
This week, construction workers discovered an ancient indigenous burial ground while building a school in Laranjal do Jari, in the northeastern state of Amapá. The site contains ceramic artifacts that could be up to 2,000 years old.
After the site was discovered, local archaeologists were called in to assess the findings. They found fifty funeral urns and around one hundred ceramic artifacts completely intact. Some of the pieces have paintings on them, indicating the presence of a large community as well as a tribe known to have lived in French Guyana and Suriname around 1,200 years ago.
Construction of the school has been put on hold until excavation ends, but archaeologists hope to create an educational center where students can learn about archaeology and help explore the site.
Click here to see photos of the excavation.
Posted by admin
Earlier this month, workers searching for termites found two mummified bodies in a convent in central Sao Paulo. Experts believe that the mummies are around 200 years old.
The mummies, thought to be nuns, were found in Mosteiro da Luz (Monastery of Light), a monastery founded by Brazil’s first saint, Antonio Galvao, in 1774. An estimated 129 nuns were buried in the building, and experts think that the two bodies were buried at different times. Further testing will determine the exact ages of the bodies.
According to archaeologists, the bodies were preserved due to “good ventilation and low humidity.” As múmias, the female mummies, may be just two of another five preserved bodies.
The Brazilian press claims that the mummies might be featured in an archaeological exposition later this year.
For more information in English, check out the BBC article, and for more information in Portuguese, check out the Globo coverage.
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