Levantamento bibliográfico e documental dos sítios arqueológicos missioneiros da Ilha de Marajó

Abstract

Marajó Island, since the late nineteenth century, has attracted a considerable number of scientists in search of prehistoric pottery found in a vast region in the center of the island. However, its colonial past, as well as the activities of the Religious Missions, established from the 17th century on, are still little explored by scholars and historians. The present work aimed to gather bibliographic and documental information about the Religious Missions areas, established in Marajó Island, in order to be the starting point for future historical archaeological research to be developed in this area, since only site PA-JO-46: Joanes has been excavated. Furthermore, the understanding of the social, political, cultural and religious relations that occurred between the indigenous and the Portuguese will be further detailed with the archaeological study of the Missions sites identified by this research. The material used in this research consisted of a large number of documents collected in the Public Archive, newspapers existing in the Centur, and other information from IBGE, SUDAM, etc. It was observed from the information collected, that the Religious Missions on the island of Marajó were established in strategic places, such as near beaches and rivers, which facilitated the movement of people and goods. The indigenous people, catechized by the religious, in turn, began to be used as labor for all the activities developed in the villages, such as fishing, agriculture and flour production. Only further studies in the areas of missionary archeological sites will be able to provide the information necessary to understand the relations established between Europeans and indigenous people, as well as the changes that occurred in the natural space of the island.