Dissertation Research: Early Holocene Hunter-Gatherers in Central Brazil

斯佩思 在John Speth博士的指导下，Renato Kipnis先生将为他的博士论文收集数据。他将在两个地点进行考古发掘-- Grande Abrigo de桑塔纳do Riacho和Lapa do Boquete --这两个地点都位于巴西中部东部。在这两个地方的初步发掘表明，它们有极好的有机保护，包括丰富的植物和动物遗骸，易腐烂的木制和芦苇制品和人类墓葬。他们有几个职业层次，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植物和动物遗迹以及陶瓷和石器等文物的样本。挖掘工作将专门针对回收受控样品，以便进行定量分析和现场内及现场间比较。将收集沉积柱样品进行花粉分析。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文化和技术组织的简单水平上如何适应严重的环境变化。在过去的12，000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Kipnis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。一个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人员的流动。基普尼斯先生将开展的工作应有助于确定这些备选方案中哪一个最有可能。 这项研究之所以重要，有几个原因。它将为许多考古学家提供感兴趣的数据。它将揭示社会如何与环境相互作用的新情况，并协助培训有前途的青年科学家。

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.