Identificação, descrição e análise das urnas funerárias do Sítio Gruta das Caretas, Rio Maracá - Igarapé do Lago

Abstract

The funerary urns from the region of Igarapé do Lago, a tributary of the Maracá River in Amapá State, have been known worldwide since the end of the last century. They present different characteristics from the other funerary pieces found in the Amazon region until then, and can be presented in three forms: anthropomorphic, anthropozoomorphic and tubular. This work aims to contribute to the study of the region's prehistory by providing new elements obtained through the detailed analysis of the funerary urns from site AP-MZ-30: Gruta das Caretas. All the urns from this site are anthropomorphic. The analysis of the urns included identification of additives, description and drawing of their details, and finally packing in the technical reserve. A total of 47 objects were analyzed and described, consisting of 24 urn bodies, 20 lids, and 3 fragment groups. Of the bodies Ii are male, 7 female, and in 6 it was not possible to identify. The results of the analysis allowed us to detail some of the characteristics already established by Guapindaia & Machado (1997) as to morphology, surface treatment and type of manufacture of the pieces. In addition, other characteristics were observed such as the use of resin for closing the urns and the existence of a pattern for arranging the bones inside them. As for the additives used in their manufacture, there is a predominance of crushed rock associated with ground sherds. The urns at the Gruta das Caretas site, although they present some common morphological characteristics and surface treatment, have details that differentiate them from one another. These usually occur in the decoration of the lids, the bodies or the benches, and in the stylized representation of some parts of the human body.