Stunning New Archaeological Findings Rewrite Ancient Brazilian History

Research at an archaeological site near Laguna challenges the hypothesis that the Southern Jê’s ancestors displaced the communities that constructed shell middens and burial mounds (sambaquis) along the coast of Santa Catarina state for over 5,000 years.

Brazilian researchers have revised the history of ancient sambaqui builders in Santa Catarina, showing that they were not replaced by Southern Jê ancestors, contrary to earlier beliefs, and shedding new light on their culture and interactions.

A significant chapter in the history of human settlement along the Brazilian coast is being revised by researchers from the Museum of Archeology and Ethnology at the University of São Paulo (MAE-USP), with support from FAPESP.