Sea mammals in archaeological sites on the southern coast of Brazil

Abstract

Animal remains were assessed from eleven archaeological sites dating between 5,000 and 1,000 B.P on the coast of Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil. Although the archaeological sites presented differentiated material culture of human occupation, the mammal species diversity was similar among them. Three species of pinnipeds and nine species of cetaceans were identified. The structures that most contribute to the species identifications were the periotictympanic complex, teeth, the cranium, radio and femur. The quantification of sea mammal elements suggest a more accurate approach for the characterization of pre-colonial human dietary because these cultural groups might have used sea lions, fur seal, whales and dolphins with greater frequency than previously supposed, despite the indications of their nautical capabilities.