BIOCULTURAL NARRATIVES ON CULTURALLY USED WOOD IN ECCLESIASTICAL FURNITURE IN SÃO FRANCISCO DO SUL, SANTA CATARINA, BRAZIL

The memory narratives presented herein form an integral part of the doctoral dissertation research titled “Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora da Graça, São Francisco do Sul (SC): from the cultural use of wood to heritage education.” The study investigates the cultural and symbolic utilization of wood within the religious heritage of the Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora da Graça (Mother Church of Our Lady of Grace), located in the municipality of São Francisco do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Through the memories evoked by the participants, this research sought to understand how wood—as a symbolic element—has been culturally appropriated over time, assuming aesthetic, social, and spiritual functions within the religious context. These narratives constitute a unique tapestry of memories, perceptions, and experiences of local residents and community faithful, revealing identity-related, biocultural, and symbolic aspects associated with the cultural use of wood. The investigation was grounded in the principles of Historical Anatomy, understood as an interdisciplinary approach dedicated to analyzing the relationships among nature, culture, memory, and heritage, particularly concerning the cultural applications of wood in sacred environments.