La mission archéologique de Minas Gerais (Brésil)

Abstract

Since 1971, French Archaeological Mission in Minas Gerais is studing the prehistory of Central Brazil area. Researches in lower and middle Holocene cemeteries backs up the theory of a first archaic wave of settlement before the arrival of mongolian stock indigenous populations in America. The dry shelters provided valuable information on the crop plants and perishable matter made tools. The analysis of rock shelters art revealed a large diversity of topics and styles, not only from one area to another, but also along millenia. Some research topics exceed the limits of the Central Brazil area, like the archaeology of the Tupiguarani art and settlement.Contacts with traditional populations (indigenous and neo-brazilian) provided informations on present stone chipping.

Keywords

• Brazil
• prehistoric cimetery
• prehistoric industry
• prehistory
• rock art