Brazil - Mato Grosso

Águeda Vilhena Vialou, a Doctor from the University of São Paulo and Professor at the French Natural History Museum in Paris, is head of research of the Franco-Brazilian expedition in Mato Grosso.

Prof. Denis Vialou and Prof. Levy Figuti are responsible for coordinating research respectively for the French Natural History Museum and the University of Sao Paulo (USP). Work began in January 1983 with a survey of paintings from the Ferraz Egreja shelter and a 4m2 sounding. We launched our research in Mato Grosso by establishing a stratigraphic sequence of occupations, which we dated to up to 4,500 years ago. This demonstrated the significance of analysing original settlement dynamics in this continental region that is some distance away from previously identified prehistoric regions.

In completing this analysis, we chose a methodology based on three major themes. The first involves the simultaneous and complementary study of settlements and rock-art systems while attempting to understand and interpret their archaeological relationships. The second, which is a consequence of the first, involves considering the archaeological data as a whole in the context of palaeoenvironmental analysis and description.

This research, which involves multiple disciplines, including anthracology, palynology, palaeobotany, archaeozoology, palaeontology, geology, geomorphology and sedimentology, has led to the comparative analysis of palaeoenvironments and modern-day environments, along with their florae and faunae. This third theme, which is genuinely multidisciplinary, is opening up new scientific and economic perspectives on modern landscapes, as demonstrated by the creation of a nature reserve by Fazenda Verde, Agropecuária Basso, the company that owns the Cidade de Pedra (City of Stone) and its surroundings where the identified archaeological sites are located.

Currently, 23 French and Brazilian researchers in addition to Moroccan, Italian and North American researchers are taking part in fieldwork or laboratory-based research.

As several excavations have been completed and others are on track to finish soon (Ferraz Egreja, Antiqueira and Arqueiros rock-art shelters), the scope of current objectives is based on summarising findings in the following way:
  Establishing a general timeframe based on absolute dating, including 14C for charcoal and wood, AMS for charcoal, U/Th for bones and OSL for quartz.
  Establishing chronostratigraphic connections between various excavations in the Ferraz Egreja and City of Stone region and considering them alongside thematic and symbolic connections established between different rock-art systems.
  Furthering our understanding of population development in this region through soundings and the detailed study of rock art at the hundreds of rock-art sites discovered so far.
  Systematically researching open-air settlement sites in the Rio Vermelho valley, below the City of Stone and Ferraz Egreja, and examining possible relationships with initial Bororo population development.

  Completing analysis of palaeoenvironments in their chronostratigraphic contexts and developing flora- and fauna-based research in current environments.
  Extending palaeontological analysis of the megafauna and taphonomic analysis of Glossotherium remains to deeper levels at Santa Elina.
  Defining biogeographic data on the megafauna in Serra das Araras and comparing them with similar data on identified megafauna in peripheral and coastal areas of South America.

^{Online: 01.14.09}