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This article aims to refine the description of the artefacts and the geomorphological, geological, pedological and chronological (optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) analyses of sedimentary deposits) characterisation of the Rincão I site (southeastern Brazil) to contribute to the understanding of early human–environment interactions. The archaeological site occupation took place on hillslopes truncated by the Mogi‐Guaçu River's lateral (~1200 m) and vertical (~5 m) movements during the Late Quaternary, in an area where in situ bedrock outcrops are uncommon. This geological context favoured human groups simultaneously having access to the resources provided by the alluvial plain and hillslopes. Here we describe how about three hundred lithic artefacts are associated with soils that originated from sandy colluvium with OSL ages between 20.3 and 5.5 thousand years. These ages are consistent with the local palaeopedological and geomorphological contexts of landscape changes, and partly controversial from the perspective of models currently in vogue for the human occupation of southeastern Brazil. The vestiges of past human presence amid the hillslope sandy colluvium deposits include: 1) a set of flakes and formal artefacts (one stemmed point and three convex artefacts) made of sandstone obtained from hillslopes near (<10 km) the site; and 2) predominant detritus and flakes of quartz and flint obtained mostly from the adjacent (<1.5 km) alluvial plain, linked to flaking sequences other than those of the formal artefacts. Only quartz artefacts were found in the lower levels of the site stratigraphy, whereas in the intermediate and upper levels quartz, flint and sandstone artefacts were found, suggesting that there were changes in the raw materials used for flaking over time. The formal artefacts from the site have technological attributes like the ones observed in assemblages associated with a previously known lithic industry (Rioclarense), but a different pattern of choice of raw materials. This suggests that technical standards underwent a process of adaptation to the environmental particularities surrounding the Rincão I site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most lithic industries associated with hunter-gatherer groups in Eastern South America, especially the ones with points present, date to the Early Holocene, with some minor industries and lithic points typologies persisting until the Middle Holocene and, more rarely, until the Late Holocene. This is the case for the Garivaldinense lithic industry associated points typologies. In this article we present the technological analysis of the points identified at the Pororó site, located in central Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The site is an artificial mound dated to around 2,500 BP. We applied an established protocol for analysis of stemmed points considering metric, morphological and technological features that allowed us to classify the artefacts in typologies. We identified two types of points associated to the Garivaldinense lithic industry: the Montenegro and Garivaldinense types. We have also identified a new type that has never been described before and proposed to refer to it as the Pororó type. At least one Pay Paso point was identified at the site, although this type of point is not yet known at other sites of this region and chronology. The results indicate persistence of the Garivaldinense Culture from the Early to Late Holocene, as well as technological innovation during the Late Holocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental archaeology, especially experimental lithic technology, has not yet been established as a line of research in Brazil (or most of South America). This article presents the first systematic experimental research aiming the replication of Paleoamerican (or Paleoindian) lithic industries. Experimental replication of the stemmed points from Rioclarense and Garivaldinense industries were carried out in order to better understand their original technology. This article presents the results of this experiment and the comparison of the technological attributes of the replicated points and flakes to the archaeological ones. The results lead us to a discussion on some important technological aspects of the first lithic industries of Eastern South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]