Whales, penguins, and sea lions are among the main animals hunted by the peoples who inhabited the southern coast of Brazil between 4.2 thousand and a thousand years ago. This is revealed by a groundbreaking research by the Federal University of Espírito Santo (Ufes) that analyzed animal remains in shell middens on the coasts of Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul. The consumption of fish and mollusks by ancestral populations was already well documented by science, and the new research helps to reveal the diversity of the diet and culture of these human groups. The results are published in a scientific article in the latest issue of the journal “Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências”.
Shell middens are human constructions formed by marine shells, coal, sediments, and animal remains. Common on the South and Southeast coast of Brazil, they consist of the accumulation of organic matter in mounds several meters high. Of Tupi origin, the name of this structure comes from the union of the words “tamba” (shell) and “ki” (mound).
The aim of the research was to investigate whether fishing-collectors-hunters hunted vertebrate animals with four legs, such as mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds, during the Holocene – a geological epoch that began about 12,000 years ago. The study analyzed about 4,000 remains of the so-called tetrapods located in ten zooarchaeological sites and stored in archeological museums in the region.
Of this total, 46 taxa, which are biological grouping units, were identified, most of which were marine animals, mainly cetaceans and whales. The species with the highest presence were Magellanic penguins and southern right whales. Although in smaller quantities, terrestrial tetrapods were also found, such as the South American tapir.
The shell middens were composed of animals from different environments such as beaches, mangroves, swamps, and forests. The variety of remains also demonstrates opportunistic and strategic hunting and fishing methods, especially in the case of animals like Magellanic penguins, originating from Patagonia, southern Argentina, and only appearing on the Brazilian coast during certain months of the year, during the winter migration, between the months of March and September.
According to Ufes researcher Augusto Mendes, author of the article, knowing about the cultural habits of the peoples who occupied Brazilian territory allows us to understand the biodiversity of that time. “The animal remains in the shell midden are the result of the symbolic and daily practices of the midden builders, such as diet and funeral rituals,” says the researcher. In addition to their use as food, the hunted animals could also be used as raw material in the production of artifacts and ornaments from bones, for example.
The author also explains that this is an opportunity to study shell middens and to learn about the history of native peoples. “This helps us to better understand the history of Brazil and place it at a starting point well before 1500,” he evaluates.
Mendes also highlights that data on human interaction with these animals are useful for species conservation strategies. Understanding the patterns of occupation of these regions over time and the impact of human behavior on the studied species can contribute to protecting individuals that are currently at risk. New studies may contribute to expanding the identification of mammals, birds, and amphibians hunted by pre-Columbian populations from this research, believes the author.
