Landscape and Archaeology of Southern Brazil

Offering the first comprehensive account of one of the most remarkable and unique indigenous cultures of South America, this book looks at the archaeology of the Southern Jê people in Brazil.Based in central and Southern Brazil, the Jê people were long considered marginal forest wanderers by traditional South American archaeology and deemed as a ‘Jungle People’ by early 20th century ethnography. Jose Iriarte traces the journey of the Je people from their initial migration from Central Brazil around 3,000-2,500 years ago to the subsequent arrival of the Europeans.Bringing together a wealth of new archaeological material and ethnographic research, Iriarte offers a fresh perspective on this rich history. He shows that the Southern Jê people engineered well-planned villages of subterranean houses; constructed funerary mounds and enclosure complexes on carefully chosen hilltops; established burial grounds in secluded caves near waterfalls; and created a rich iconography depicted in painted and engraved rock art and ceramics.Connected with the UN SDG Goals, this book outlines the important conservation work that is needed to protect the Atlantic forest, which has suffered extensive deforestation with the impact of urbanization, agriculture and industrial development. This book is an important contribution not only to work on South American archaeology, but also to the conservation efforts that are critical to preserve the remaining historical fragments of this region.