History and memory of the research and archaeological collection of the Balbina Hydroelectric Power Plant

Abstract

This study aims to reconstruct the memory of the archaeological collection of the Balbina Hydroelectric Power Plant, located in the city of Presidente Figueiredo, Amazonas State. For this purpose, we addressed aspects related to Amazonian Archeology and the construction of power generation plants in the 1980s, as well as the Brazilian environmental licensing policies. We start with the debate on the formation of archaeological collections in Brazil focusing on the concept of abandonment stratigraphy. The research was carried out in archival institutions and through interviews with professionals connected to the Archaeological Rescue Project of Balbina Hydroelectric Power Plant (SAUHEB). Based on the findings, we present how the process of forgetting a set of archaeological sources occurred, circumscribed in the field of exiled memories and resignified through contemporary historical heritage actions.