Grafismos rupestres uma realidade além do Brasil: Correlações Mato Grosso do sul – Paraguai.

Abstract

Archaeology, as a science with its own methodology and theory, is dedicated to the study of the material culture of human societies, with material culture expressed in artifacts produced by humans as its primary source. Among these sources, rock art, often referred to as petroglyphs, stands out as one of the main fields of archaeological research. The expressions present in rock art, created by hunter-gatherer-fisher groups on rock walls, shelters, and caves, left marks in the past that are now analyzed by archaeologists. These records are valuable sources of information, capable of shedding light on the lifestyles of these groups and enabling conjectures about the meanings of their drawings and symbols. Rock art, as a form of expression that transcends borders, highlights the mobility of ancient human groups who inhabited and marked the places where their impressions remain. Given this context, this undergraduate thesis aims to contribute to the study of correlations between the Templo dos Pilares and Gruta da Mesa archaeological sites, located in Alcinópolis, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, and the archaeological sites in the Amambay Department of Paraguay, with a focus on the dates and types of identified rock art.The research was structured into three chapters. The first chapter addresses rock art in Brazil, exploring its research trajectory and contributions over time. The second chapter discusses the settlement of South America, Brazil, and specifically Mato Grosso do Sul, situating the state within its archaeological context and highlighting recent initiatives, such as the Trilha Rupestre Program. The third chapter provides a detailed description of the Templo dos Pilares and Gruta da Mesa sites and presents an archaeological overview of Paraguay, including descriptions of its sites, followed by a discussion of correlations with previously researched data. To conduct this study, we employed a methodology based on the analysis of articles, theses, dissertations, undergraduate projects, primary sources, excavation projects, preliminary reports, and images. We concluded that there are correlations among the sites proposed in the research, particularly regarding dating, lithic material, and the types of rock art observed.