Brazilian archeology is a work perspective within
Archaeology that aims to work with the specific problems and conditions of archeology in Brazil.[1] Brazilian archeology proposes to combat
Eurocentrism in the scientific production of the area in the
country, seeking to rescue and preserve the
Brazilian archaeological heritage. This perspective also began to work academically in the country through the expansion of
archeology work, which used to be very concentrated in the
South and Southeast regions, and which began to work throughout the country through training and performance centers in
Brazilian universities.
There are several reasons for archaeology in Brazil has failed to integrate into a most prominent
Latin American or worldwide context. Brazil has a large size of the territory, lacks government support, has tropical environments, lacks of monumental architecture, and Brazil's being
Portuguese-speaking country; therefore, with all these factors combined, it was and still is difficult to form a well-structured Brazilian archeology.[2]
History
Archeology can trace its intellectual trajectory from the 15th and 16th centuries, in the context of
antiquarianism and Classicism, through the 18th century Enlightenment and emerging as a scientific discipline in the early 19th century.[3]
In Brazil, this development has taken place since the 19th century, since the passage from the Empire to the Republic, when people thought about the construction of national ideals, in addition to the discourses constructed to discover the origin and social organization of the
Brazilian indigenous groups.[4] Currently, Brazilian archeology is increasingly turning to indigenous societies.[5]
The history of archaeology in Brazil has been divided into seven periods:[6]
Colonial period from 1500 to 1822.
Brazilian empire from 1822 to 1889
Republic period from 1889 to 1920
Formative or Modern period from 1920 to 1949
Inception of university research period from 1950 to 1964
Dictatorial military period from 1964 to 1985
Democratic and pluralist archaeology from 1985 to present time.