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<p>The Atlantic Amazon region is defined by vast alluvial plains, which host some of the largest mangrove ecosystems worldwide. These landscapes comprise shell mounds dated between 6,000 and 1,000 years ago. Shell mounds are widely associated with long-term and repeated human occupation of coastal environments. This paper presents the first detailed phytolith analysis from the Porto da Mina shell mound (ca. 6,200–4,600 cal <span>bp</span>), based on a stratified sequence of 23 archaeological layers composed of mollusc shells, faunal remains, charcoal and ceramics. The phytoliths from stratified sediments revealed the importance of Arecaceae (ca. 66%) for the mound builders, including <i>Attalea/Mauritia</i> sp., <i>Euterpe</i> sp., <i>Oenocarpus</i> sp., and <i>Bactris/Astrocaryum</i> sp., complemented by arboreal dicotyledons and herbaceous taxa. The identification of <i>Zea mays</i> in the upper layers and <i>Cucurbita</i> sp. at two levels in the profile suggests that domesticated plants were present among the range of plant resources incorporated into the mound deposits. These findings highlight the connection between plant management strategies and the territorial behaviours of mid-Holocene shell mound builders in the coastal Amazon.</p>

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Phytolith evidence for plant use at the mid-Holocene Porto da Mina coastal shell mound, Brazilian Amazon

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月30日

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  • Lautaro Hilbert,
  • Helena Pinto Lima,
  • Emilly Mescouto Brito,
  • Mayara Mariano,
  • Erendira Oliveira,
  • Daiana Travassos Alves

摘要

The Atlantic Amazon region is defined by vast alluvial plains, which host some of the largest mangrove ecosystems worldwide. These landscapes comprise shell mounds dated between 6,000 and 1,000 years ago. Shell mounds are widely associated with long-term and repeated human occupation of coastal environments. This paper presents the first detailed phytolith analysis from the Porto da Mina shell mound (ca. 6,200–4,600 cal bp), based on a stratified sequence of 23 archaeological layers composed of mollusc shells, faunal remains, charcoal and ceramics. The phytoliths from stratified sediments revealed the importance of Arecaceae (ca. 66%) for the mound builders, including Attalea/Mauritia sp., Euterpe sp., Oenocarpus sp., and Bactris/Astrocaryum sp., complemented by arboreal dicotyledons and herbaceous taxa. The identification of Zea mays in the upper layers and Cucurbita sp. at two levels in the profile suggests that domesticated plants were present among the range of plant resources incorporated into the mound deposits. These findings highlight the connection between plant management strategies and the territorial behaviours of mid-Holocene shell mound builders in the coastal Amazon.