On bands, tribes and chiefdoms: an approach to Amazonian archaeology

Abstract

In this paper a short assessment of the Amazonian archaeology is presented. This relatively new field of research attempts to understand a huge area covering both the largest rainforest and river in the world, so the task is a constant challenge. Aside from the pioneers of the early twentieth century, Amazonian archaeology revolves around the opposite approaches of Betty J. Meggers and Donald W. Lathrap. With new findings, this debate continues from the seventies onwards trying to better understand the origin, antiquity, and dispersion of Amazonian men and women, in addition of trying to answer the question whether Amazonian indigenous societies and cultures are equal or not to those before the European conquest. This debate has two related lines: (i) the population Amazonian environment can sustain; and (ii) the level of complexity of societies in the area. New data rise key questions such as changes in the settlement pattern and increased conflicts and wars in the beginning of our Era.