Dissertation Research: Early Holocene Hunter-Gatherers in Central Brazil

在约翰·斯佩斯博士的指导下，雷纳托·基普尼斯先生将为他的博士论文收集数据。他将在两个遗址-Grande Abrigo de Santana do Riacho和Lapa do Boquete-进行考古挖掘，这两个遗址都位于巴西中部东部。Primr在这两处的发掘表明，它们都有很好的有机保存，包括丰富的植物和动物遗骸，易腐烂的木制和芦苇文物以及人类埋葬。他们有几个职业等级，跨越了过去12,000年的大部分时间。通过他的挖掘，基普尼斯先生将增加花卉和动物遗骸的样本，以及陶瓷和石器等文化文物的样本。挖掘将专门针对回收受控样品，以便进行定量分析和现场内和现场间的比较。将采集沉淀柱样本进行花粉分析。在此基础上，将有可能重建环境的详细变化，并记录人类对这些变化的反应。这项研究的目的是调查人类社会在简单的文化和技术组织层面上如何适应严峻的环境变化。在过去的12000年里，这种变化发生在巴西中部，这两个保存完好的考古遗址为基普尼斯先生提供了解决这个问题的机会。考古学家提出了不同的适应策略。一是资源多样化和集约化，重点是改变当地对环境的利用。另一个主要是社会性的，涉及在群体之间建立网络以及增加货物和个人的流动。基普尼斯先生将开展的工作应有助于确定这些替代方案中哪些最有可能。这项研究之所以重要，有几个原因。它将提供许多考古学家感兴趣的数据。它将为社会如何与其环境互动提供新的线索，并帮助培养一位有前途的年轻科学家。

Speth Under the direction of Dr. John Speth, Mr. Renato Kipnis will collect data for his doctoral dissertation. He will conduct archaeological excavation at two sites - Grande Abrigo de Santana do Riacho and Lapa do Boquete - both located in eastern Central Brazil. Primr excavations at both indicate that they have excellent organic preservation, including rich botanical and animal remains, perishable wooden and reed artifacts and human burials. They have several occupation levels that span most of the last 12,000 years. Through his excavation, Mr Kipnis will increase the samples of floral and faunal remains as well as cultural artifacts such as ceramics and stone tools. Excavation will be specifically aimed at recovering controlled samples which will permit quantitative analysis and intra- and inter-site comparison. Sediment column samples will be collected for pollen analysis. On this basis it will be possible to reconstruct detailed changes in environment and document human response to these. The goal of this research is to investigate how human societies at a simple level of cultural and technological organization adapt to severe environmental change. Over the last 12,000 years such variation has occurred in Central Brazil and these two archaeological sites with excellently preserved remains offer Mr. Kipnis to address this question. Archaeologists have posited different adaptational strategies. One involves resource diversification and intensification where the focus is on change in local use of the environment. Another is primarily social and involves the establishment of networks among groups and the increased movement of goods and individuals. The work which Mr. Kipnis will conduct should help to determine which of these alternatives is most likely. This research is important for several reasons. It will provide data of interest to many archaeologists. It will shed new light on how societies interact with their environment and assist in the training of a promising young scientist.