The foot-in-the-mouth figurine and discourse construction based on material culture

Abstract

The ‘foot in the mouth’ figurine is one of the most iconic pieces of Santarém ceramics, dated between the 10th and 16th centuries. This article focuses on the several analyses that have included this object since its discovery at an archaeological site in downtown Santarém in the middle of the 20th century. From the review of nine collection studies, seven news reports, three TV programs, and nine social media accounts, I present a perspective on different discourses, in particular archaeological ones, based on the material culture of pre-colonial Amazonian societies.