Cerritos, tolas, tesos, camellones y otros montículos de las Tierras Bajas de Sudamérica

Abstract

RESUMÉNSe analizan los paisajes producidos por la ocupación humana pré-histórica en las tierras bajas de Amazonia y del Cono Sur; evaluando sus similitudes y relaciones con montículos de origen natural. Se describen aspectos específicos de cada escenario y se interpreta el proceso cultural de formación de estos asentamientos con montículos, a partir de información reciente. Se exponen aspectos de otras ingenieras ambientales implementadas por especies animales que habitan en esos ambientes. Las coincidencias ecológicas, las analogías sociales relativas al trabajo corporativo y las similitudes estructurales; estimulan la reflexión sobre el conjunto de las relaciones que unen a las sociedades humanas con la naturaleza. La búsqueda de aspectos comunes entre los montículos de las tierras bajas de Sudamérica, contribuye a reconocer los diferentes itinerarios históricos y culturales. Palabras claves: montículos; tierras bajas, relaciones naturaleza-cultura. ABSTRACTThis work analyzes landscapes produced by prehistoric human occupation in the Lowlands of Amazonia and the Southern Cone of South America, estimating their similarities and connections with mounds of natural origin. A description of specific aspects is proposed, as an interpretation of the cultural process of formation of these settlements with mounds . At the same time, aspects of other environmental structures made by "soil engineer" animals living in these landscapes are proposed. Ecological coincidences, social analogies connected with collective work and structural similarities can stimulate thoughts on interactions between human societies and nature. Investigation on aspects common to earth mounds of the Lowlands of northern and southern South America contributes to identify specificities of each historical and cultural story.

Geoarchaeological signatures of anthropogenic soils in southeastern Uruguay: Approaches to formation processes and spatial–temporal variability

“…Finally (but not the necessary product of an original planification) cerritos can be defined as intentional earthen structures, constructed using soil material and anthropic sediments (mainly originated by the accumulation of discarded materials and burnt earth). They may have been used as a place of disposal of domestic waste, inhabitation areas, silvicultural and horticultural production, hot spots for hunting, funerary monuments, territorial markers, among others possible uses (Bracco et al, 2015; Gianotti & Bonomo, 2013; Iriarte, 2006; López Mazz et al, 2016; Milheira & Gianotti, 2018).…”

“…By the modification of soil edaphic characteristics and nutrient enrichment, ancient inhabitants created suitable habitats for the growth and production of useful species (e.g., Arroyo‐Kalin, 2010; Neves & Petersen, 2006; Schmidt et al, 2014). In the last decades, several common archaeological manifestations across the South American lowlands depicted other forms of human‐intensive management at scales ranging from site to entire landscapes, which also produced anthropogenic sediments and soils, including earthen architecture (tumuli, platforms, defensive structures, raised fields), hydraulic engineering (damming and irrigation systems), and the construction of fluvial and terrestrial communication networks (Heckenberger et al, 2008; Arroyo‐Kalin, 2016; Boixadera et al, 2019; Bonomo et al, 2011; Lombardo & Prümers, 2010; Lombardo et al, 2011; López Mazz et al, 2016; Milheira et al, 2017; Rostain, 2010).…”

Earthen ridges in coastal sand dunes of the Caribbean coast, Venezuela: Anthropogenic or natural?

“…AD 700–800 (Oliver, 1989) and the earliest documented causeway systems in the Venezuelan llanos which date to around AD 500–700 and were constructed by hierarchical chiefdoms (Gassón, 2002; Sánchez et al, 2017). Causeways and other pre‐Hispanic road systems elsewhere in northern South America have been similarly related to complex societies developed after the first millennium AD, and in many cases were built shortly before the Spaniards’ arrival in the New World (Erickson, 2011; López‐Mazz et al, 2016). Hence the chronology established here for the ridges seems to support the natural origin of these structures.…”

“…It has been proposed, in particular by Hernández‐Baño (1984), Hernández‐Baño and Trujillo (1989), and Morón (2011), that these earth ridges were intentionally constructed as causeways on the basis of the following observations: Their location in a region that also contains well documented prehispanic roads: Earthworks are widespread in South America, and include varied types of mounds, ridges, elevated fields, and causeways, that were built for many purposes, although the utility of some of these features is still under discussion (Bracco et al, 2011; López‐Mazz et al, 2016). In Venezuela, the best‐documented large earthworks of human origin are those of Barinas state in the western llanos.…”

Arqueologia paulista e o marcador cerâmico como delimitador de fronteira étnica: um estudo das regiões sul e oeste do estado de São Paulo

“…A importância das florestas de araucária aos grupos Jê também é relatada por Iriarte (2007) e Schmitz (2016) associando categoricamente a expansão desses grupos à difusão das florestas. Ao contrário da afirmação de Prezia (2010) (Schmitz, 2016, 20) 11 A relação íntima entre paisagens, vegetação e os grupos humanos não é exclusiva entre os grupos Itararé-Taquara do sudeste e sul brasileiro, outros estudos apontam também a relação entre a existência de cerritos e a butiá (Butia capitata) no sul do Brasil (LOPEZ MAZZ et al, 2014;LOPEZ MAZZ et al, 2016).…”