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The most famous Brazilian archaeologist, Niède
Guidón, born in the state of São Paulo, doesn't have much in common
with her Hollywood adventurous "fellows". The characteristical
heavy khaki clothes of "Indiana Jones" can't be found in her
thrifty wardrobe. She rather dresses in a clean style: plain t-shirt and
worn-out tennis shoes. That's how she looks like when she's ready for her
daily 20 kilometer walk around the Serra da Capivara National Park, in the
State of Piauí, northeast of Brazil. |
| Even though boots would be more
practical for hiking in rough lands, she rather hurts her feet than sweat
under the hot sun. A donkey is the transportation for her work tools: ax,
brushes, spatula, shovel and camera. Her two schnauzer dogs, Cloe and
Mimo, are also very trustful and never leave her alone.
The water inside her canteen is equally shared among her
and the dogs . When the temperature gets extremely high, the pets stay
inside her air-conditioned Toyota, which she drives on longer rides. Walk
around that region is a routine for the lady-researcher since 1970.
In that year she discovered
the first archaeological site in the state of Piauí. During that time,
Niede explored 700 kilometers afoot in the period of three months.
"If the old jeep we owned could hardly be driven on the local dirt
streets, imagine in the scrub savanna. . . ", says Niede.
During the 25 years of study, Niede was able to find
traces of human beings who lived 48700 thousand years ago. Her discoveries
are responsible for an important change of the theory about the human occupation
of the american continent. Till then, most of the archaeologists
believed that it happened 20 thousand years ago.
The Brazilian researcher possesses evidences of human
existence for at least 50 thousand years. The oldest archaeological site
is called Toca
do Boqueira da Pedra Furada, where 1150 pre-historical images can be
found. There Niede came across remains of a bonfire structured with logs
and stones chipped by humans 48700 thousand years a go.
The first searches in São Raimundo Nonato were financed
by the French Government. Niede considers France, where she lived from
1964 until 1992, her second homeland. At the moment, Niede is the head of
the Serra da Capivara National Park.
The park is a protected area included in the lists of
worldwide historical patrimonies of Unesco, United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization. She also organizes the American Man
Museum, located near the National Park. "My goal is that the Museum
and the Park turn into a center dedicated to the american civilization"
studies, she says. |
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