Presenças indígenas no sudoeste goiano: um estudo etnohistórico sobre os povos indígenas na região de Palestina de Goiás e Caiapônia (séculos XVIII - XIX)

Abstract

This monograph aims to investigate the indigenous presence in southwestern Goiás, specifically in the regions of Palestina de Goiás and Caiapônia, with an emphasis on the 18th and 19th centuries. The research adopts an ethnohistorical approach, combining methods from archaeology, history, and anthropology to reconstruct the past of the original peoples who inhabited the Araguaia River basin. The first archaeological investigations in the area began in the 1970s and 1980s. Throughout the research, approximately 42 archaeological sites were identified in the region, encompassing rock art, lithic, litho-ceramic, and ceramic artifacts. The main gap addressed is the scarcity of historical records that accurately portray the reality of indigenous groups in the region, free from stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination. This study establishes ethnohistory as an essential method for integrating documents and indigenous oral tradition, employing the perspective of "longue durée" to analyze cultural resistance. It details the region's archaeological sites, their rock art, and the ceramic traditions found, revealing aspects of indigenous social practices. The research also addresses the impacts of the colonial period and the indigenist policies that resulted in displacement and territorial reconfigurations for groups such as the Southern Kayapó, emphasizing the role of archaeology in reconstructing this past. The analysis of ceramics is crucial, linking findings to historical groups and highlighting the potential of these artifacts as identity markers. The work advocates for the importance of integrating these disciplines to rescue the silenced indigenous presences, refuting stereotypical views and promoting a decolonial approach that recognizes original peoples as active subjects of history, valuing their culture, territoriality, and continuity to the present day.