Pervasive transition of the Brazilian land-use system

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The Oldest Case of Decapitation in the New World (Lapa do Santo, East-Central Brazil)

We present here evidence for an early Holocene case of decapitation in the New World (Burial 26), found in the rock shelter of Lapa do Santo in 2007. Lapa do Santo is an archaeological site located in the Lagoa Santa karst in east-central Brazil with evidence of human occupation dating as far back as 11.7-12.7 cal kyBP (95.4% interval). An ultra-filtered AMS age determination on a fragment of the sphenoid provided an age range of 9.1-9.4 cal kyBP (95.4% interval) for Burial 26. The interment was composed of an articulated cranium, mandible and first six cervical vertebrae. Cut marks with a v-shaped profile were observed in the mandible and sixth cervical vertebra. The right hand was amputated and laid over the left side of the face with distal phalanges pointing to the chin and the left hand was amputated and laid over the right side of the face with distal phalanges pointing to the forehead. Strontium analysis comparing Burial 26's isotopic signature to other specimens from Lapa do Santo suggests this was a local member of the group. Therefore, we suggest a ritualized decapitation instead of trophy-taking, testifying for the sophistication of mortuary rituals among hunter-gatherers in the Americas during the early Archaic period. In the apparent absence of wealth goods or elaborated architecture, Lapa do Santo's inhabitants seemed to use the human body to express their cosmological principles regarding death

Effects of lipid sources in the diet of laying hens on the fatty acid profiles of egg yolks

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)The effects of different dietary lipids on the fatty acid profiles of eggs produced by 20- and 54-wk-old Dekalb laying hens were investigated. The 4 treatments were based on the lipid source added to the diet: soybean oil, sunflower oil, linseed oil, or control (no added oil). The experimental design was a simple random-sample design using a 4 X 2 factorial arrangement (4 treatments and 2 ages). The fatty acid composition of the yolks of eggs produced by the laying hens was analyzed. The fatty acid profiles found in the egg yolks were the same as those provided in each diet. Eggs laid by hens fed the diet containing soybean oil had a large amount of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), whereas eggs laid by hens fed the diet containing linseed oil had the highest percentage of n-3 PUFA. A decrease in PUFA deposition in egg yolks was observed as the laying hens got older. Eggs of hens fed the diet containing linseed oil presented an n-6:n-3 ratio of 2.01 in younger chickens and 2.17 in older ones. The trans fat percentages found in the egg yolks of all treatments were very low. It was concluded that the quantity of fatty acids present in the egg yolk may be altered according to the source of lipids in the diets; the addition of linseed oil to the ration of laying hens resulted in the production of n-3-enriched eggs and excellent n-6:n-3 ratios, and the egg yolks had insignificant amounts of trans fat, irrespective of the different lipid sources added to the diets or the age of the chickens.891124842490Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq