Avaliação arqueo-espeleológica das cavernas da Raiz, Raio, Onça e Batismo do município de Presidente Figueiredo - Amazonas

Abstract

The pre-colonial human occupations of Amazônia have been outlined (highlighted) in the worldwide literature in the last decades, emphasizing mainly open archeological sites. Detailed studies with this emphasis in caves are restricted to the Monte Alegre region, State of Pará, northern Brazil. The geoarcheology analysis of caves of Uatumã-Abonari Speleologic Province located in the Presidente Figueiredo e Balbina districts, Northeast of Statet of Amazonas, allowed characterized vestiges of pre-colonial human occupations in this part of Amazonia. The caves were developed in Silurian (420 Ma) quartz-arenites of Nhamundá Formation and include morphologic features as saloon, galleries, quartz speleotems, abandoned conduits (pipes) generally beheaded in fractures plains. The uplift phenomena, pseudokarstic relief dissection and ground waters hydrodynamic favored the chemical dissolutions and mechanic dismantling, following a sanding/pipe model, generating the caves during the Quaternary. The evidences of human occupation in the Raiz, Raio, Onça e Batismo caves, with probable age of 800 years, are predominantly undecorated fragments ceramics and rupestrial paintings. The caves were used as temporary shelters probably for hunting activities, and rarely for ritualistic ceremonials. Nowadays, the caves are in continuous processes of depredation due the uncontrolled tourism and the ignorance of the local population about the meaning and importance of this cultural patrimony. This study demonstrated this importance and can be a guide to future works which use the geology and archaeology in the reconstitution of the history of the human occupation in the Amazônia.