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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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi
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Series: | Boletim do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi. Ciências Humanas |
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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. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-12T00:13:28Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-1ddfb9e5ea094ecfa86b35f25c9d24a7 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2178-2547 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-12T00:13:28Z |
publisher | Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi |
record_format | Article |
series | Boletim do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi. Ciências Humanas |
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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