CERRITEIROS FISHERFOLK FROM THE PAMPAS AND SOUTHERN COAST OF BRAZIL AND URUGUAY: ARCHEOLOGY, INDIGENOUS HISTORY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

Abstract

This article explores the cultural diversity of earthen mound builder groups, known as Cerritos, spanning from Uruguay to the Patos-Mirim lagoon, southern Brazil. Over a period of 5,000 years, these groups underwent various transformations, establishing territories, borders, and monuments. The shift from hunting to fishing as a primary daily activity underscores the significance of aquatic resources in their diet as evidenced by isotopic and lipid analyses, and by bone pathologies associated with fishing-related activities pointing to the repetitive use of fishing tools. Data of mobility and visibility within the lagoon landscape suggest interconnectedness between different regions. The accumulated data indicates that Cerriteiros were active agents in shaping the aquatic environment, leaving enduring cultural and physical imprints of their deep history in the Pampas region, which legacies contributed to niche composition in terms of increasing biodiversity, important factors for environmental conservation in contemporary times.