Type of Document Dissertation Author Schaan, Denise Pahl Author's Email Address deniseschaan@marajoara.com URN etd-08182004-002851 Title The Camutins Chiefdom: Rise and Development of Social Complexity on Marajo Island, Brazilian Amazon Degree Doctor of Philosophy Program Anthropology School School of Arts and Sciences Advisory Committee
Advisor Name Title James B. Richardson III Committee Chair John Frechione Committee Member Kathleen Allen Committee Member Marc Bermann Committee Member Michael J. Heckenberger Committee Member Keywords
- non-agricultural chiefdom
- precolumbian fish farming
- Marajo Island
- Amazonia
- complex societies
- Marajoara Phase
Date of Defense 2004-08-09 Availability unrestricted Abstract The emergence and development of complex societies in the Amazonian lowlands has been historically debated as a function of the relationships between human populations and the natural environment. Culture ecology on one hand, and historical ecology, on the other hand, have offered different views on cultural development, without providing compelling archaeological testing.The present study proposes an ecological-economic model to account for the emergence of social complexity on Marajó Island. This model predicts that in areas of abundant aquatic resources, communal cooperation for the construction of river dams and ponds allowed for the development of a highly productive fishing economy with low labor investment. The production of surpluses created opportunities for kin group leaders to compete for the administration of the water-management systems, leading to control over resources and surplus flow. The differential access to resources created social stratification, and the development of a complex religious-ideological system in order to legitimize the political economy. Focusing on one of the Marajoara chiefdoms, a group of 34 mounds located along the Camutins River, the study demonstrates that the location of ceremonial mounds in highly productive areas was related to control over aquaculture systems.
The study suggests that the existence of similar ecological conditions in several other locations on the Island led to the multiplication of small chiefdoms, which, once in place, competed for labor, prestige, and power. Based also on data provided by other researchers, this study proposes a chronology for the emergence and demise of complex societies on Marajó Island, as well as defining the main periods within Marajoara phase.
Files
Filename Size Approximate Download Time (Hours:Minutes:Seconds)
28.8 Modem 56K Modem ISDN (64 Kb) ISDN (128 Kb) Higher-speed Access Dschaan_Pitt2004.pdf 25.03 Mb 01:55:53 00:59:36 00:52:09 00:26:04 00:02:13 If you have questions or comments please send mail to ETD-Feedback.