Significado geomorfológico do sambaqui de Sernambetiba

Abstract

The author divides the paper into the following parts: Introduction; Localization and situation; Origin and nature of the deposit; The shell-mound or kitchen-midden and the possible oscillations of the coast. The shell-mounds are considered from the point of view of their value as prehistoric monuments and also as an indicator of variation in the level of the littoral. It is mounted out, however, that the latter role can only be attributed to them in special cases, such as that of Sernambetiba. The profiles published show the capping o f the deposit with débris transported recently from the slopes of the Serra do Mar and the coastal ranges. The author goes on to stress the problem of preserving the shell-mounds in view of, their great value to research in the fields of prehistory, anthropology and even geology, geomorphology and geography.