Amazonian Dark Earths: pathways to sustainable development in tropical rainforests?

Abstract

Fertile dark anthrosols associated with pre-Columbian settlement across the Amazon Basin have sparked wide interest for their potential contribution to sustainable use and management of tropical soils and ecosystems. In the Upper Xingu region of the southern Amazon, research on archaeological settlements and among contemporary descendant populations provides critical new data on the formation and use of anthrosols. These findings provide a basis for describing the variability of soil modifications that result from diverse human activities and a general model for the formation of Amazonian anthrosols. They underscore the potential for indigenous systems of knowledge and resource management to inform efforts for conservation and sustainable development of Amazonian ecosystems.Keywords: Anthrosols. Terra Preta. Historical ecology. Ethnoarchaeology. Upper Xingu. Resumo:Antrossolos escuros e férteis associados a assentamentos pré-colombianos em toda a bacia amazônica têm despertado interesse por sua contribuição potencial no uso e manejo sustentável de solos e ecossistemas tropicais. Na região do alto rio Xingu, no sul da Amazônia, pesquisas sobre assentamentos arqueológicos e populações indígenas contemporâneas oferecem novos dados relevantes sobre a formação e o uso dos antrossolos. Os resultados fornecem uma base para a descrição da variabilidade de modificações no solo oriundas de diversas atividades humanas e um modelo geral para a formação de antrossolos amazônicos. A pesquisa mostra o potencial dos sistemas indígenas de conhecimento e manejo de recursos em contribuir na conservação e no desenvolvimento sustentável de ecossistemas amazônicos.

Terra preta de índio: Commodification and Mythification of the Amazonian Dark Earths

“…The soil properties of terra preta locations are relatively homogeneous, which indicates active soil management. Ethnopedological research has shown that currently living Amerindian groups' lifestyle leads to the formation of black earth (Schmidt 2013). Even without this evidence, it would be plausible to presume that at least some of the indigenous groups formerly living in the Amazon consciously carried out soil management techniques by adding a combination of charcoal, ceramic sherds and organic material (human excrement).…”

Neither counterfeit nor paradise: The carrying capacity of pre‐Columbian ecosystems in Brazil

“…Dark earths, or anthrosols, are rich soils believed to have been formed from the composting of human refuse. According to Denevan (:14), “soil improvement made permanent or semi‐permanent cultivation possible and thus larger populations than otherwise.” Schmidt () finds notable similarities between dark earth samples taken from contemporary Kuikuru villages and pre‐Columbian settlement remains in the Upper Xingú of southern Amazonia: Terra preta soils are primarily composed of refuse, including ceramics, and are found adjacent to dwelling sites, whereas lighter terra mulata soils show evidence of burning and other plant waste and are found on the edges of settlements.…”

Beyond Waters: Archaeology and Environmental History of the Amazonian Inland

“…With regard to Terras Pretas, a pattern of spatial organization of the settlements was identiied in diferent areas of Amazonia e.g. Upper Xingu region, Central Amazonia, Lower Trombetas River and Lower Tapajos River Schmidt 2013;Schmidt et al 2014). Even though this is a point of convergence where the formation of ADEs has a diversity of processes, it is related with both environmental and social/cultural factors.…”

“…Even though this is a point of convergence where the formation of ADEs has a diversity of processes, it is related with both environmental and social/cultural factors. It can therefore be diferent according to the function of the spaces within the archaeological site (Schmidt 2013;Schmidt and Heckenberguer 2009;Schmidt et al 2014).…”