Outside the large villages: the Vereda III archaeological site and its complementary information about occupation systems of groups associated to Aratu-Sapucaí ceramic tradition

Abstract

Set in a limestone massif, at a hidden location in the landscape, flanked by rock slopes and shelters, the archaeological site Vereda III (Lagoa Santa region, Minas Gerais, Brazil) offers new data when considering the studies already undertaken regarding groups whose ceramic is attributed to the Aratu-Sapucaí tradition. The site held practically intact archaeological contexts, here interpreted as de facto refuse of food and objects production and consumption,
which were very likely related to one or more festivities. Considering that the
ceramic tradition in question is, in Brazilian Archaeology, attributed to indigenous groups speakers of the language stock Macro-Jê, this paper briefly presents a type of shelter settlement different from the open sites, understanding them as complementary to each other.