Anchoring the landscape: human utilization of the Cerro Gavilán 2 rockshelter, Middle Orinoco, from the Early Holocene to the present

Abstract Initial archaeological investigations at Cerro Gavilán 2, a rockshelter located in the Bolívar State of Venezuela, reveal evidence for human activity that spans the Early Holocene to the present. This report summarizes the information obtained through surface collection, limited excavation,...

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Main Authors: Kay Scaramelli, Franz Scaramelli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi
Series:Boletim do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi. Ciências Humanas
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1981-81222017000200429&lng=en&tlng=en
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author Kay Scaramelli
Franz Scaramelli
author_facet Kay Scaramelli
Franz Scaramelli
author_sort Kay Scaramelli
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Initial archaeological investigations at Cerro Gavilán 2, a rockshelter located in the Bolívar State of Venezuela, reveal evidence for human activity that spans the Early Holocene to the present. This report summarizes the information obtained through surface collection, limited excavation, and documentation of the surface features and rock art in the cave. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C analysis established dates from excavated strata that range between 9250 ± 60 BP to 3440 ± 40 BP, and are associated with a unifacial flake technology and charred faunal and floral remains, whereas surface remains span the known ceramic sequence for the area. Rock art corresponds to distinctive superimposed styles that indicate continual repainting of the cave through time, serving to anchor the site to the landscape for multiple societies inhabiting the region. It is suggested that the shelter may have fulfilled different functions over time and a sequence of seasonal residential, ritual, and funerary activities is proposed. The rich cultural context found in Cerro Gavilán 2 contributes to advances in Amazonian archaeology that are redefining our knowledge of early developments and the complexity of human/environmental interactions in tropical America.
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spelling doaj.art-1ddfb9e5ea094ecfa86b35f25c9d24a72022-12-22T03:55:54ZengMuseu Paraense Emílio GoeldiBoletim do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi. Ciências Humanas2178-254712242945210.1590/1981.81222017000200010S1981-81222017000200429Anchoring the landscape: human utilization of the Cerro Gavilán 2 rockshelter, Middle Orinoco, from the Early Holocene to the presentKay ScaramelliFranz ScaramelliAbstract Initial archaeological investigations at Cerro Gavilán 2, a rockshelter located in the Bolívar State of Venezuela, reveal evidence for human activity that spans the Early Holocene to the present. This report summarizes the information obtained through surface collection, limited excavation, and documentation of the surface features and rock art in the cave. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C analysis established dates from excavated strata that range between 9250 ± 60 BP to 3440 ± 40 BP, and are associated with a unifacial flake technology and charred faunal and floral remains, whereas surface remains span the known ceramic sequence for the area. Rock art corresponds to distinctive superimposed styles that indicate continual repainting of the cave through time, serving to anchor the site to the landscape for multiple societies inhabiting the region. It is suggested that the shelter may have fulfilled different functions over time and a sequence of seasonal residential, ritual, and funerary activities is proposed. The rich cultural context found in Cerro Gavilán 2 contributes to advances in Amazonian archaeology that are redefining our knowledge of early developments and the complexity of human/environmental interactions in tropical America.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1981-81222017000200429&lng=en&tlng=enVenezuelaArte rupestreOcupação do Holoceno inicialAbrigo sob rocha no OrinocoArqueologia da paisagem
spellingShingle Kay Scaramelli
Franz Scaramelli
Anchoring the landscape: human utilization of the Cerro Gavilán 2 rockshelter, Middle Orinoco, from the Early Holocene to the present
Boletim do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi. Ciências Humanas
Venezuela
Arte rupestre
Ocupação do Holoceno inicial
Abrigo sob rocha no Orinoco
Arqueologia da paisagem
title Anchoring the landscape: human utilization of the Cerro Gavilán 2 rockshelter, Middle Orinoco, from the Early Holocene to the present
title_full Anchoring the landscape: human utilization of the Cerro Gavilán 2 rockshelter, Middle Orinoco, from the Early Holocene to the present
title_fullStr Anchoring the landscape: human utilization of the Cerro Gavilán 2 rockshelter, Middle Orinoco, from the Early Holocene to the present
title_full_unstemmed Anchoring the landscape: human utilization of the Cerro Gavilán 2 rockshelter, Middle Orinoco, from the Early Holocene to the present
title_short Anchoring the landscape: human utilization of the Cerro Gavilán 2 rockshelter, Middle Orinoco, from the Early Holocene to the present
title_sort anchoring the landscape human utilization of the cerro gavilan 2 rockshelter middle orinoco from the early holocene to the present
topic Venezuela
Arte rupestre
Ocupação do Holoceno inicial
Abrigo sob rocha no Orinoco
Arqueologia da paisagem
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1981-81222017000200429&lng=en&tlng=en
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