Multidisciplinary studies of Southern Brazil Holocene: Archaeological, palynological and paleontological data

Abstract

In order to understand the relationship between human occupation and paleoenvironmental scenario in Southern Brazil during Holocene, multidisciplinary studies were carried out in two archaeological sites located at Northeast of Rio Grande do Sul State: Sangão rockshelter (RS-S-327) and Garivaldino rockshelter (RS-TQ-58). Both sites have radiocarbon ages from 9400 to 3730 14C BP, revealing a continuous occupation of this area by hunter-gatherer populations related to Umbu Tradition. Palynological studies conducted in areas near the archaeological sites demonstrated an increase in humidity and in arboreal taxa starting at 5400 14C BP, providing evidence of a mosaic of grasslands and forests. These findings are corroborated by the analysis of small-sized mammals related to non-human predation associated to these archaeological sites, which present contemporary taxa typical of forests and open areas. They also demonstrated that environmental changes were slow and gradual during the Holocene. Although paleoenvironmental data suggest that the landscape of this region evolve gradually from mosaic of forest and open landscapes to diverse and densest forests, zooarchaeological analysis indicates a pattern of adaptive stability that persists throughout the Holocene, characterized by generalist strategies of subsistence focused mainly in forest resources. Therefore, the favorable weather conditions and the presence of forest environments restricted to river valleys and mountain slopes until Mid-Holocene, played a central role for the initial human settlement of this area, related mainly with riverine routes.