Jê landscapes archeology of southern Brazil and geographic information systems (GIS)

Abstract

The Post-Doctoral Research Assistance will manage the geographic information database (GIS) of "Jê Landscapes of southern Brazil: Ecology, History and Power in the transitional landscape During The Late Holocene" project. The database will be created putting together information from academic and preventive archaeology projects deposited in IPHAN archives (in Florianópolis, Brasília and Rio de Janeiro offices). At the same time, the database will contain data generated by the project itself in four intensive archaeological research areas. Whenever possible, site size data will be included, shape and type of land engineering and the corresponding material culture. This information will be organized, re-evaluated and processed by building a unique integrated database on a GIS basis (in ArcGIS software). For the first time will produce a basic map of the distribution sites throughout the Project area, with standardized information type, shape and size of the sites. At a regional level will be produced detailed maps to analyse the distribution of sites on the basis of variables such as natural resources, hydrology, soil types and topography, to produce statistical correlations between location of the sites, structures of the sites (type, size, shape) and coordination with other nearby sites. These will allow access to information: 1. To what extent local variables influenced the location of the settlements, the organization of communities and the diversity of material culture; 2. Explore and spatial settlement patterns distribution in dwelling places or ritual places, such as alignment, orientation, accumulated intervisibility, potential paths of movement in the territory, among other analysis of GIS. (AU)