A Social History of Brazilian Archaeology: A Case Study

Pedro Paulo A Funari,Lucio Menezes Ferreira

doi:10.5334/bha.16203

Pedro Paulo A Funari, Lucio Menezes Ferreira

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5334/bha.16203

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Abstract

The role of archaeology and material culture in general, in the construction and legitimation of cultural identities, has become central in archaeological theory and practice over the last few years (Jones 1997). The relationship between archaeology and the construction of identities has been at the heart of the discipline from the start, in the nineteenth century, but it was only with contextual, postprocessual approaches that a critical assessment of this relationship became common. The World Archaeological Congress and its emphasis on the socio-politics of archaeology played a vital role in this (Ucko 1995). However, the growth of nationalism in Europe and elsewhere in the world, and the spread of globalisation as a popular interpretive framework, has contributed to the realisation that identity building and material culture were to be interpreted are inextricably interrelated.

Highlights

Colonial Discourse in ArchaeologyThe role of archaeology and material culture in general, in the construction and legitimation of cultural identities, has become central in archaeological theory and practice over the last few years (Jones 1997)
The aim of this paper is to show how a social history of Brazilian archaeology from a post-colonial perspective, can contribute to a better understanding of archaeology as a strategic discourse
The IHGB’s archaeological practice was organized along the lines of a philological approach. This meant that the criteria for studying material culture and developing hypotheses about the origin of indigenous people were grounded in philology, the major purpose of which was to collect indigenous myths

Summary

Introduction

The role of archaeology and material culture in general, in the construction and legitimation of cultural identities, has become central in archaeological theory and practice over the last few years (Jones 1997). Unlike earlier internalist accounts of archaeology, the history of the discipline has been increasingly situated in the changing social, cultural, and political circumstances of society as a whole This innovative approach considers the historical conditions that have permitted the existence of the discipline, as well as the circumstances in which knowledge has been produced (Patterson 2001: 5). At the beginning of the twentieth century, prehistoric and historic archaeological heritage contributed to forging Brazilian identity Throughout both of these periods the Historical and Geographical Institute (IHGB) played a key role in the development of the discipline of archaeology, helping to establish and perpetuate the social and epistemological features that continue to haunt the discipline to this day

A Degenerate and Fossilized People

Findings

Conclusion