Arqueologia do conflito no Pontal da Barra, sul do Brasil

Abstract

Pontal da Barra is an ecotone area characterized by wetlands, flooded fields, dunes, and Atlantic Forest, located along the shores of the Patos Lagoon and the São Gonçalo Channel, in the municipality of Pelotas, in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. This region is marked by intense conflicts related to environmental and heritage degradation, primarily driven by the expansion of real estate speculation. These conflicts involve a diverse array of social actors, including real estate developers, traditional fishermen, local residents, public administrators, scientists (environmentalists, ecologists, archaeologists, anthropologists, and biologists), lawyers, public management agents, and jurists, each of whom engages with the landscape through various individual or institutional actions and perspectives. From the viewpoint of Public Archaeology, this study conceptualizes Pontal da Barra as a cultural landscape where Archaeology and Anthropology intersect, particularly in the context of conflicts between human and non-human actors. The study examines these conflicts by analyzing the discourses of various social agents and the history of disputes over heritage assets. It approaches these discourses through a multivocal construction of knowledge, intentionally diminishing the researcher’s authoritative position in favor of a more balanced narrative. By exploring the relationships between different actors and the landscape, the knowledge generated around Heritage broadens understandings related to its existence and fuels discussions about its continuity, protection, valorization, dissemination, and the legal frameworks that underpin its preservation.