Lapa do Santo

Lapa do Santo
Lapa do Santo. Aerial view of the site and human skeleton dated to 10 thousand years.
Lapa do Santo. Aerial view of the site and human skeleton dated to 10 thousand years.
Location in Brazil
Location in Brazil
Location in Brazil
LocationMinas Gerais, Brazil
RegionLagoa Santa Karst
Coordinates19°28′40″S 44°02′20″W / 19.47778°S 44.03889°W / -19.47778; -44.03889[1]
Typelimestone rockshelter
Area1,300 m2 (13,993 sq ft)

Lapa do Santo[2][3] is an archaeological site located in the northern part of the Lagoa Santa karst,[4] in the state of Minas Gerais in east-central Brazil. It documents human presence since ca. 12000 years ago presenting three discrete occupation phases that correspond to the early, middle and late Holocene. Lithic technology, zooarchaeology, and multi-isotopic analyses indicate groups of hunter gathers with low mobility and a subsistence strategy focused on gathering plant foods and hunting small and mid-sized mammals. The use of Lapa do Santo as an interment ground started between 10.3 and 10.6 cal kyBP with primary burials. Between 9.4 and 9.6 cal kyBP central elements in the treatment of the dead were tooth removal, mutilation, defleshing, exposure to fire and possibly cannibalism, all to reduce the body ahead of reburial of the remains while adhering to strict rules.[5] In the absence of monumental architecture or grave goods, these groups were using parts of fresh corpses to elaborate their rituals. As part of this funerary agenda Lapa do Santo presents the oldest case in the New World of decapitation.[6][7] Another type of burial included pits filled with separated bones of a single individuals presenting abundant evidence of perimortem fracturing. Lapa do Santo also presents a rare instance of securely dated rock art: an early Holocene low relief anthropomorphic figure depicting a phallus.[1]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Neves 2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Lapa do Santo - Projeto Morte e Vida" [Lapa do Santo - Life and Death project]. sites.usp.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). University of São Paulo. Archived from the original on 2019-02-27.
  3. ^ Guimarães, Maria. "The peoples of Lagoa Santa : Revista Pesquisa Fapesp". revistapesquisa.fapesp.br. São Paulo Research Foundation. Archived from the original on 2018-10-04. Retrieved 2018-10-03.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Araujo 2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Strauss 2016 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Engelhaupt, Erika (2015-09-23). "Oldest Decapitated Head in New World Found in 'Vogue' Pose". National Geographic. Archived from the original on 2018-10-04. Retrieved 2018-10-03.
  7. ^ Casey, Michael (2015-09-23). "Evidence of New World's oldest decapitation found". CBS News. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2018-10-03.