Lucas Bueno

Preliminary abstract: The aim of this project is to discuss the peopling process of the Central Brazilian Plateau by the study of archaeological sites located on Middle Valley of Tocantins River. The Central Brazilian Plateau is the region where there are the earliest dates available for the occupation of the east of South America, therefore it is a crucial area for discussions on the Initial Peopling of South America. The sites selected for the present research present evidences of being occupied since the end of the Pleistocene and, thus they have a great potential for discussing the age and dynamics of the occupation of the inner South American continent. These sites also provide evidences of a continue occupation of the region along the Holocene, despite climatic instability indicating events of increased aridity. This context contradicts the model built within the Brazilian archaeology where movements of regional abandonment have been associated with climatic variations related with an increasing aridity and restrictions on surface water availability. The case of the Middle Tocantins area draws attention to the need of a contextual approach for studying the dynamics of interaction between human behavior and environmental variations and the need of a complex look at the articulation arrangements between the archaeological record and the behavioral interpretation. With this project we expect to contribute on a wider discussion about the dynamic involved on occupation process of uninhabited or poorly inhabited areas, as well as on the interactions between human behavior and environmental variations. Therefore, we will work with key concepts such as technology, mobility, territory, and territoriality.