Pedra Furada: A reappraisal of its artifacts, structures and stratigraphy

Abstract

Three decades after the end of excavations at Pedra Furada, Northeastern Brazil, the site has been almost excluded from the debate about the first phase of human expansion in the Americas. Since the radiocarbon chronology spanning a period from 7 to 60ky ago is unquestioned, most scepticism focuses on the anthropic nature of the artifacts and structures from the Pleistocene layers. The main objections concern the flaked tools on endogenous raw material, possibly resulting from rock spalling or being the involuntary product of monkeys’ battering activities. Fireplaces and other structures have been also questioned on the basis of the occurrence of bush fires and possible waterflow. In this paper, the entire evidence from the Pleistocene units is updated and presented in English, in a dynamic display aiming to facilitate the inspection by the reader, including hundreds of unpublished photographs. The main objections questioning the validity of this important archaeological sequence are discussed in the context of its regional setting and of the main pre-LGM sites in the Americas.