Investigação arqueopalinológica do sítio arqueológico bananeira em Goiânia , Goiás.

Abstract

This work aims to discuss the interface between archaeology and palynology, based on the analysis of palynomorphs deposited in a stratified sequence present at an archaeological site located in the municipality of Goiânia, Goiás. Palynology is part of botanical studies, focused on the analysis of palynomorphs that include spores of pteridophytes and fungi, pollen grains of gymnosperms and angiosperms, charcoal particles, as well as other micro-remains, whether fossil or current. The studies allow establishing the distribution of local vegetation and the reconstruction of a paleoenvironment and climatic changes from the analysis of the set of palynomorphs present in stratified sequences. At the Bananeira archaeological site, located in the area covered by the João Leite stream, in the municipality of Goiânia, with original cerrado vegetation, previous studies have shown the presence of ceramic groups whose dates point to an occupation around 500 ± 30 years BP with records of maize (Zea mays) cultivation. The characterization of the set of palynomorphs associated with the dated level allowed for the characterization of past vegetation and its comparison with the current pollen spectrum, highlighting changes in the vegetation as a whole over the last 1,500 years. For archaeology, palynological studies can point to evidence of human occupation through the identification of fires, deforestation, and cultivation, and it is also possible to reconstruct the vegetation of a study area over geological time.