Book contents
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Acknowledgments
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Part I The Americas
- 1 Monkeys in the City of Gods
- 2 Monkeys and the Ancient Maya
- 3 Monkeys on the Islands and Coasts of Paradise
- 4 Mirroring Desert Societies with Monkeys
- 5 Alterity, Authority, and Ancestors
- 6 Representations of Primates in Petroglyphs of the Brazilian Amazonia
- 7 Nonhuman Primates in the Archaeological Record of Northeastern Brazil
- 8 Lice in Howler Monkeys and the Ancient Americas
- Part II Europe
- Part III Africa
- Part IV Asia
- Index
- References
6 - Representations of Primates in Petroglyphs of the Brazilian Amazonia
from Part I - The Americas
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 August 2022
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Acknowledgments
- World Archaeoprimatology
- Part I The Americas
- 1 Monkeys in the City of Gods
- 2 Monkeys and the Ancient Maya
- 3 Monkeys on the Islands and Coasts of Paradise
- 4 Mirroring Desert Societies with Monkeys
- 5 Alterity, Authority, and Ancestors
- 6 Representations of Primates in Petroglyphs of the Brazilian Amazonia
- 7 Nonhuman Primates in the Archaeological Record of Northeastern Brazil
- 8 Lice in Howler Monkeys and the Ancient Americas
- Part II Europe
- Part III Africa
- Part IV Asia
- Index
- References
Summary
Twenty-nine petroglyphs found in 15 archaeological sites in Brazilian Amazonia, previously selected as possible representations of primates, were analyzed in detail in search of shapes or postures that could be used for identifying taxa. Identification was based on the assumption that each artist would have depicted local fauna. After genera had been determined, geographic distribution of the respective species in the region was examined. This method allowed for the identification of nine species, in addition to one animal at genus level and another to family level. Archaeological publications dealing with representations of animals often disregard methodological procedures used for taxon identification. A more refined procedure would include examining taxon diagnostic characters, life history and behavior, and geographic distribution. All observed taxa are endemic to Amazonia. Among the identified species, three are currently considered vulnerable to extinction. Two species were found to be represented in sites located in geographic areas where they supposedly do not occur, which suggest the need for more thorough faunal inventories and should stimulate research on the displacements of ancient human communities in those regions.
Rock art, Archaeology, Zoology, Morphology, Behavior
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- World ArchaeoprimatologyInterconnections of Humans and Nonhuman Primates in the Past, pp. 153 - 171Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2022