New perspectives on the archaeological cartography of the Jê in Southern Brazil

Abstract For a long time, the Southern Jê Amerindians were perceived through the lens of the ‘standard model’. They were considered demographically reduced, isolated and nomadic. However, recent advances in the archaeology of Southern Brazil allow us to question such model. In this paper, our main aim is to demonstrate, through the mapping of archaeological sites and their dates, that it is possible to identify areas of high population density with permanent occupation. In addition, we discuss other hypotheses based on site distribution such as the peopling of Southern Brazil by the Jê groups; the process of interaction with other populations (mainly from the Tupi-Guarani linguistic family); and about their territorial situation in the beginning of the 16th century.