Lapa do Santo

Lapa do Santo is an archaeological site located in the northern part of the Lagoa Santa karst, in the state of Minas Gerais in east-central Brazil. It documents human presence since ca. 8500 BC presenting three discrete occupation phases that correspond to the early, middle and late Holocene. Lithic technology, zooarchaeology, and multi-isotopic analyses indicate groups of hunter gathers with low mobility and a subsistence strategy focused on gathering plant foods and hunting small and mid-sized mammals. The use of Lapa do Santo as an interment ground started between 10.3 and 10.6 cal kyBP with primary burials. Between 9.6 and 9.4 cal kyBP, central elements in the treatment of the dead were tooth removal, mutilation, defleshing, exposure to fire and possibly cannibalism, all to reduce the body ahead of reburial of the remains while adhering to strict rules. In the absence of monumental architecture or grave goods, these groups were using parts of fresh corpses to elaborate their rituals. As part of this funerary agenda Lapa do Santo presents the oldest case in the New World of decapitation. Another type of burial included pits filled with separated bones of a single individuals presenting abundant evidence of perimortem fracturing. Lapa do Santo also presents a rare instance of securely dated rock art: an early Holocene low relief anthropomorphic figure depicting a phallus.

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Wikimedia, Wikidata
archaeological site, grave, cave, Carste de Lagoa Santa Environmental Protection Area, Brazil, 

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Location: -19.4751, -44.0378, KML, Cluster Map, Maps,
3 places

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• 

  Gruta da Lapinha ⓘ
  cave in Brazil

• 

  Gruta Rei do Mato ⓘ
  cave in Brazil

• 

  Lapa do Santo ⓘ
  archaeological site

Frameless

Lapa do Santo - Geoarqueologia - Perfil Unidade K10 Perfil Norte

Lapa do Santo - Geoarqueologia - Perfil Unidade M3 Perfil Leste

Lapa do Santo - Overview interior - Unidade F13 2001 ou 2002

Lapa do Santo - Overview interior - Unidade J08 2001 ou 2002

Lapa do Santo - Overview interior - Unidade F13 2001 ou 2002b

Lapa do Santo - Overview interior - Unidade M06 Concha

Lapa do Santo - Overview interior - Trabalho no sitio 2001 ou 2002

Lapa do Santo - Overview interior - Fechamento sitio 2001 ou 2002

Lapa do Santo - Geoarqueologia - Perfil

Lapa do Santo - Geoarqueologia - Perfil Unidade H Perfil sul

Type	Subtype	Date	Description	Notes	Source
site	cave		Gruta da Lapinha	cave	Wikidata
site	cave		Gruta Rei do Mato	cave	Wikidata
site	cave		Lapa do Santo	archaeological site, grave, cave	Wikidata
commons	image		Lapa do Santo - Geoarqueologia - Perfil Unidade K10 Perfil Norte		Commons
commons	image		Lapa do Santo - Geoarqueologia - Perfil Unidade M3 Perfil Leste		Commons
commons	image		Lapa do Santo - Overview interior - Unidade F13 2001 ou 2002		Commons
commons	image		Lapa do Santo - Overview interior - Unidade J08 2001 ou 2002		Commons
commons	image		Lapa do Santo - Overview interior - Unidade F13 2001 ou 2002b		Commons
commons	image		Lapa do Santo - Overview interior - Unidade M06 Concha		Commons
commons	image		Lapa do Santo - Overview interior - Trabalho no sitio 2001 ou 2002		Commons
commons	image		Lapa do Santo - Overview interior - Fechamento sitio 2001 ou 2002		Commons
commons	image		Lapa do Santo - Geoarqueologia - Perfil		Commons
commons	image		Lapa do Santo - Geoarqueologia - Perfil Unidade H Perfil sul		Commons