Interpreting waterfalls as pockets of histories of Indigenous groups from the South-American Lowlands

ABSTRACT

The main objective of this article is to discuss how waterfalls and rapids were constantly visited and occupied for thousands of years by indigenous collectives from the South-American lowlands. Landscape analysis and material culture from archaeological sites, that appear since the early Holocene on the surrounding areas of these places, were our guides. We present three case studies as examples of the historical potential of the waterfalls: Teotônio (Upper Madeira), Tucuruí (Lower Tocantins) and; Xingó (Lower São Francisco). Our main conclusion is that these landmarks should be understood as pockets of histories and should receive special attention as to their preservation.

Keywords:
waterfalls (rapids); persistent places; archaeological ceramics