FIRST RUPESTRIAN REPRESENTATIONS OF ARAUCARIA ANGUSTIFOLIA IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL

Abstract

This paper presents the first recorded rupestrian representations of Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze. Located in southern Brazil, the archaeological finding and its substrate are characterized in detail, a discussion being held on the ethnic relations among indigenous populations, this type of vegetation and the local landscape evolution. A panel extending for 0.36 m2 consists in of Araucaria angustifolia specimens represented on a coarse sandstone surface. In all, 13 representations of Araucaria angustifolia and 20 representations of anthropomorphs were identified. The visual discourse established by the use of a consistent pictorial technique reinforces the hypothesis that the pictures represent either a forest or an isolated group of Araucaria angustifolia trees. The surface on which these elements were represented seems to have been selected for that purpose following some sort of criteria. Also, the detailed representations of plant elements and anthropomorphs mark a chronocultural relation between the pictorial panel and members of the Jê populations that inhabited the region.