Investigação histórica do engenho Murutucu

Abstract

Projects in Archeology are being developed aiming at a better understanding of the functioning of the Amazonian sugar mills. Our work is a contribution to the memory of these sugar mills, based on the historical and archaeological study of the Murutucu sugar mill, located in Belém. Based on the data collected from books, newspapers, library iconography, and the codices of the Public Archive of Pará, as well as on the findings of archaeological excavations at the site of the mill, with the discovery of fragments and objects of daily use, we can divide its history into two periods: the first was its apogee, from the beginning of the 18th century until the mid-1840s; the second, from this period until the end of the 20th century, when the mill was already in ruins and underwent a process of revitalization for tourism purposes. We have also investigated the ceramic material collected at the engenho, consisting of fragments of vases and kitchenware, observing mainly their decoration and the type of paste, which include: faience, fine earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. With these data we conclude that Murutucu was one of the most equipped and important mills in the region, having entered into decadence due among others to the Cabanagem, which provoked a labor and production crisis and insecurity among the owners.