Análise dos bancos das urnas Maracás

Abstract

The funerary urns of the Maracá culture, originating in the region of Igarapé do Lago, are known worldwide and are characterized by human figures seated on benches. However, certain details present in these urns have not yet been established. The objective of this work was to characterize the benches figured in the urns. To this end, the benches were thoroughly observed and drawn on cards created for these purposes, using twenty-seven urns with bench collected at site AP-MZ-30 Gruta das Caretas, three urns from the Ferreira Penna Collection, four urns from the Lima Guedes Collection, and two from the Carlos Estevão Collection. Thus, through the characterization of these artifacts, which have anthropomorphic and zoomorphic forms, we conclude that the act of sitting on benches, within the Maracá culture, can express a concept of transformation, of communication between levels of life, and of connection with ancestry and authority. Furthermore, this work intends to contribute to a better understanding of funerary rituals and the Maracá culture.