Multi-technique investigation of potshards of a cerrito (earthen mound) from southern Brazil.

The physicochemical investigation of ceramics crafted and managed by ancient humans allows a better understanding of their social, technological, economical, routine and artistic activities. The Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Sul presents the biggest number of registered archaeological sites in the country, and many of them are earthen mounds, locally known as cerritos de indios. This kind of archaeological site is of utmost importance to understand the social development of the biome Pampa - including areas from Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay - and almost nothing is known about the physicochemical composition of the artifacts from the Brazilian portion.