Preliminary Results of Archaeological Investigations at the Mouth of the Amazon

Abstract

Recent years have seen increasing archaeological research in South America, but little of it has been undertaken in the tropical forest regions. In an attempt to fill a portion of this gap we spent the period from July, 1948 to July, 1949 in archaeological survey and excavations on the Islands of Marajó, Mexiana, and Caviana in the mouth of the Amazon and in the Territory of Amapá, (Brazilian Guiana). At the close of the field work the material was analysed, classified, and described in Brazil, and compared with collections from the region not available in American museums. It is upon these preliminary studies and comparative analyses that the following discussion is based; and although the basic classifications and ceramic typologies will not be changed, some alterations in over-all conclusions may be made as the final report nears completion.