CEstA Duo with Ana Caroline Arapiun and Eduardo Rosa
September 4, 2026, at 5:30 PM
Ana Caroline Arapiun
An Indigenous archaeologist of the Arapiun people. She holds a degree in Archaeology from the Federal University of Western Pará, where she conducted research focusing on women and oral traditions. She earned her Master’s degree from the Federal University of Sergipe, dedicating herself to projects involving traditional communities and zooarchaeology. She is currently pursuing her doctorate at the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at the University of São Paulo, focusing on themes related to Indigenous archaeology and biodiversity in the Lower Amazon region. She is currently a fellow with the Guatá project—a Brazil-France initiative—supported by the *Département Homme et Environnement* (Human and Environment Department) of the *Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle* and the CNRS Institute of Ecology and Environment (INEE), specifically within the UMR 7209 unit (Bioarch: Bioarchaeology, Interactions, Societies, and Environments).
“Fish and Memories”: Pathways between auto-archaeology and zooarchaeology in interpreting ancient fishing practices in the Lower Amazon
This presentation addresses ancient fishing practices in the Lower Amazon region, drawing on auto-archaeology methodologies and the analysis of archaeological assemblages related to fishing (fish bones) from the Ponta do Jauari archaeological site. The goal is to reflect on the preservation of aquatic environments from an endogenous perspective, led by an Indigenous archaeologist.
Methodological pillars include: auto-archaeology, bibliographic review, zooarchaeological analysis of fish bones, and the protection of sacred sites considered archaeological heritage. This approach allows for the integration of scientific knowledge with Indigenous knowledge and the exploration of strategies for the ecological and cultural conservation of aquatic areas in the Lower Amazon.
Eduardo Rosa de Mendonça Costa
Archaeologist and historian; he holds a degree in History from the University of São Paulo and has completed internships involving teaching, research, and community outreach. Held research fellowships with the PET-History program, the educational department of the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, and the Laboratory of Tropical Archaeology (Arqueotrop). Holds a Master’s degree in Archaeology from the University of São Paulo, with research focused on understanding the origins of ceramic technology in Amazonian shell mounds (*sambaquis*). Currently pursuing a PhD in Archaeology at the same institution as a FAPESP fellow. Works with funerary contexts in Amazonian shell mounds, analyzing the practices and gestures performed to understand concepts surrounding death.
Shell Mounds, Funerary Contexts, and Death in the Amazon
This presentation will provide an overview of the archaeology of funerary contexts in the Amazon, focusing specifically on burials found in the region's shell mounds. It will discuss concepts of death among certain Indigenous populations, the relationships established with burial sites, the history of studying these contexts within Amazonian archaeology, and how shell mounds fit into the broader picture of funerary practices identified to date.
The research approach is grounded in the archaeology of death, which seeks to understand not only the physical characteristics of human remains or grave goods but also the gestures and practices associated with funerary rituals—and what these can reveal about the phenomenon of death in the societies under study.
Image: Clodoaldo Corrêa Arapiun
In-person event
Free admission, subject to space limitations
No registration required
CEstA Headquarters: Rua do Anfiteatro, 181, Colmeia - Favo 8
Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP
www.cesta.fflch.usp.br
cesta@usp.br
Instagram: @cestausp