Correlations between radiometric analysis of Quaternary deposits and the chronology of prehistoric settlements from the southeastern Brazilian coast.
Natural gamma radiation measurements of sand deposits were carried out in order to study the chronology of prehistoric colonization of the Brazilian coast during the Holocene. The method employs thorium, uranium and potassium as tracers of the geological provenance of Quaternary deposits, where artificial shellmounds are found. The so-called sambaquis are archaeological settlements, characteristic of fisher-gatherers, specialized in the exploitation of shellfish. Our results show a considerable positive correlation between the formation of coastal deposits, based on cross plots of eTh/eU and eTh/K, and the antiquity of its prehistoric human occupation.
Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Av. Gal. Milton Tavares de Souza, s/no, Gragoatá, 24210-346 Niterói, RJ, Brazil. meigikos@if.uff.br
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Anjos
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Macario
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Lima
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Fernandes
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Vezzone
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Bastos
D001938:Brazil; D005720:Gamma Rays; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D011849:Radioactive Tracers; D055110:Radiometric Dating / Q000379:methods*; D012758:Shellfish / Q000032:analysis; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D013910:Thorium / Q000032:analysis; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis
D011849:Radioactive Tracers; D014866:Waste Products; D014501:Uranium; D013910:Thorium; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D011188:Potassium