Preliminary results of the 2017 season in the Amazonian earthen structures known as geoglyphs.

La primera sesión de trabajo de campo del equipo conjunto de investigación de la de la Universitat de València Estudi General (UVEG) y  la Universidad Federal de Acre (UFAC) ha avanzado significativamente en el conocimiento de las estructuras de tierra construidas en el paisaje amazónico, conocidas popularmente como "geoglifos". En ella se ha realizado por primera vez una topografía de alta precisión y ha permitido hallar una nueva estructura que sumar al catálago en el territorio de la "Reserva Extrativista Chico Mendés"

Doing archaeology and working with Amazonian communities: the case of the earthen structures known as geoglyphs

The project of study of earthen structures known as geoglyphs led by the universities of Valencia (Spain) and the Federal University of Acre (Rio Branco, Brazil) has different objectives but the main one, beyond, the study of the structures is the implementation of plans that allow the necessary protection of these monuments having an impact on local communities. The project pretends to move away from interventions that could be labeled as ‘neocolonialist’ and contribute to the development of archaeological activity in the state of Acre. For this, it has the collaboration of the Acrean delegation of the Instituto de Patrimonio Histórico Artístico (IPHAN), la fundación Elías Mansur de Cultura e Comunicação and institutions of great social relevance as the In- stituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBIO) and the Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuària (EMBRAPA). The study of the geoglyphs, paradoxically, has been possible due to the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest with absolute con- tempt of the local communities, both indigenous and rubber workers (serengueiros). The sustainable development of these com- munities implies a management of the extractive reserves, mainly of the Chico Mendes one, and to that sustainable development it intends to contribute the integral study of the earthen structures known as geogplyphs. The extraordinary dimension of the phe- nomenon, more than 500 structures in the state of Acre (more than 150000 km2 of mainly forested surface) makes its conserva- tion very complicated if local communities are not involved. From the archaeological point of view, the necessary excavations have to weigh the sustainability of the project and plan activities of protection.The project of study of earthen structures known as geoglyphs led by the universities of Valencia (Spain) and the Federal University of Acre (Rio Branco, Brazil) has different objectives but the main one, beyond, the study of the structures is the implementation of plans that allow the necessary protection of these monuments having an impact on local communities. The project pretends to move away from interventions that could be labeled as ‘neocolonialist’ and contribute to the development of archaeological activity in the state of Acre. For this, it has the collaboration of the Acrean delegation of the Instituto de Patrimonio Histórico Artístico (IPHAN), la fundación Elías Mansur de Cultura e Comunicação and institutions of great social relevance as the In- stituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBIO) and the Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuària (EMBRAPA). The study of the geoglyphs, paradoxically, has been possible due to the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest with absolute con- tempt of the local communities, both indigenous and rubber workers (serengueiros). The sustainable development of these com- munities implies a management of the extractive reserves, mainly of the Chico Mendes one, and to that sustainable development it intends to contribute the integral study of the earthen structures known as geogplyphs. The extraordinary dimension of the phe- nomenon, more than 500 structures in the state of Acre (more than 150000 km2 of mainly forested surface) makes its conserva- tion very complicated if local communities are not involved. From the archaeological point of view, the necessary excavations have to weigh the sustainability of the project and plan activities of protection