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Focusing on the preservation and appreciation of the Western Amazon Geoglyphs, the 5th International Archeology Symposium was held on July 8 and 9, at the Palace of Justice, in Rio Branco (AC). The event brought together researchers, public institutions, indigenous leaders and civil society representatives around the scientific and historical value of these millennial structures.
Promoted by the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), in partnership with the Ibero-American Institute of Finland and with the support of the Institute of National Historical and Artistic Heritage (Iphan), the Symposium is part of the project “Geoglyphs: Indigenous Stories and Landscape in the Western Amazon”, coordinated by Professor Rhuan Carlos Lopes. The edition also honored archaeologist Denise Pahl Schaan (in memoriam), a reference in the region’s archaeological studies.
In addition to the debates, the program included international conferences/ Photo: IPHAN/ AC
One of the main moments of the program was the round table on “Geoglyphic Preservation and Management Policies”, held on the 9th, mediating by the Prosecutor Luidgi Merlo (MPF). The debate was attended by representatives of Iphan, Ufac, Ibama, ICMBio, Incra, among other institutions.
For Iphan Superintendent in Acre, Stenio Cordeiro, the symposium brought significant advances. “Several state, municipal and federal agencies are adding efforts. The common goal is to promote work, income and preservation, with geoglyphs as a starting point. Tourism, for example, is a tool that leads to valorization and care for this heritage,” he said.
In addition to the debates, the program included international conferences – such as Professor Martti Pärssinen of the University of Helsinki – documentary exhibition, research group launch and discussions about archaeoturism and appreciation of ancestral indigenous knowledge. The event was free and open to the public.
Geoglyphs: millennial marks of indigenous occupation
Acre geoglyphs are soil excavated structures, usually in geometric shapes, made with ditches and walls. To date, more than a thousand geoglyphs have been identified in the state, especially in the East Region.
Although first recorded in the 1970s, systematic studies only gained strength from the 2000s. Archaeological excavations point out that these structures were built about 2,500 years ago by indigenous groups that dominated sophisticated soil management techniques and landscape modification.
There is still no consensus on its original function, but researchers believe that geoglyphs may have been used for rituals, social meetings or even as houses. What is certainly known is that these structures reinforce the presence of organized, numerous and technically advanced indigenous societies in the Amazon region in the pre-colonial period.
Due to its scientific and symbolic importance, geoglyphs are considered historical and cultural heritage of invaluable value, representing a landscape shaped by indigenous human action and integrated with the identity of the Amazon.
