Cutting and studying different levels on land on the Sambaquis researchers can learn about evolution and way of life from ancient people that lived on brazilian shore



Researchers on the Sambaquis design

Tools, objects and sculptures left on the Sambaquis

26 songs that lives inside childrens heart, all
over Brazil and a beautiful art cover design

Let´s hear about a story that begins 6.000 years ago. It´s name is "How to make a mountain" and the name of the mountain is "Sambaqui". Do you know what is it?

Sambaqui´s height can be near 15 meters height

6.000 years ago, many people begun to live on brazilian shore. They lived there based on fishing and collecting moluscles, beyond hunting and catching of plants too.

The word "sambaqui" is an aboriginal word, on tupy language. It means "mussel mountain". Putting together all the rinds and shells they got, these ancient groups build up incredible mountains that are near 15 meters height! Inside that, archeologists find many of their tools, fish-hooks, objects, a lot of burials and other things that explains a lot about how these people lived.

Mammals and fish bones were used by people who
did the "sambaquis" to make tools
Photos: Dorath Pinto Uchoa Archives(MAE-USP)

In Brazil we have sambaquis all over the seashore, being the more ancient on Amazonas and the newest on Brazil´s south. They represent a work of many generations, and actually "sambaquis" are an important source for studying of mankind history.

Source and Photos: Paulo De Blasis (MAE/USP) on http://www.itaucultural.org.br/arqueologia/pt/home.htm