The rising of navigation in the sambaqui people: arguments, hypotheses and evidences

Abstract

The archaeological evidence found along the Brazilian coast indicate that this area was occupied since, at least, 8,000 years BP by collecting groups which exploited the coastal aquatic environment. Though the scientific community hold that the ‘sambaquieiros’ were skillful navigators, evidences for that are still rare. In this article, starting from an approach focused on Maritime Archaeology, arguments, hypotheses and evidences which discuss the understanding that, beyond a strong economical and symbolical relation with the aquatic environment, the people of the sambaquis either appropriate or developed techniques of navigation and nautical artifacts.