Niède Guidon
Encyclopedia
Niède Guidon is a Brazil
ian archaeologist who was born on the 12 March 1933 in Jaú
, in the state of São Paulo
, Brazil
. She has won international recognition and support for her struggle to protect Brazil's rich archaeological heritage.
Donning a classic and casual style, Niède Guidon can usually be seen wearing old tennis shoes, jeans and a t-shirt during her typical 18-hour, 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) walks workdays.
in Piauí
, Brazil
where she and her colleagues have discovered over 800 pre-historic sites concerned with the occupation of America by human beings.
The park encompasses an area protected by UNESCO
(United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). Niède Guidon is responsible for that area's preservation, development and management. Her findings and excavations have led to the possibility of previously believed early-American dates to be exceeded by more than 30,000 years.
, prehistory, and the restoration of archaeological artifacts.
Niède Guidon has also made attempts at improving the educational opportunites in Brazil by leading petitions to build schools. She successfully established five new schools in local communities with a teaching faculty from the University of São Paulo
, but they have slowly declined in activity due to the lack of governmental structure. A ceramics business was begun by her efforts (Cerâmica de Capivora), and when it began turning a profit she gave the reins over to local entrepreneurs to assist in their business endeavors. Not only does she contribute to the welfare of children, she does her best to offer opportunities to the less appreciated females of Brazil. She formed the view the incredibly sexist and hateful view that male employees fail to keep a sanitary working environment. So now, therefore hires only females as park guards, which, being blatant gender discrimination, is in direct violation of Brazilian human rights legislation; and a great example of how the Brazilian state has trouble enforcing rule of law in remote parts of the country.
Niède Guidon holds a degree in Natural History from the University of São Paulo
and a doctorate in Archaeology from the Sorbonne
in Paris
, France
. In 1978 she petitioned the Brazilian government to create the Parque Nacional Serra de Capivara which solidified the next 25 years of her archaeological dedication. Her findings were first brought to the spotlight in 1986 with a publication in the British magazine Nature
, in which she claimed to have discovered 32,000 year old hearths and human artifacts. In 1988 she began a partnership with IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) that led to the continuation of her excavations.
region in Brazil. She came across a structure resembling a bonfire equipped with arranged logs and stones that date back to 48,700 years ago, though there is undisputed evidence dating back to 10,000 years. Pedra Furada is a rock shelter 55 feet (17 m) deep that portrays over 1,150 pre-historic images along its walls. Here she has found thousands of artifacts that possibly suggest human handiwork.
She has discovered over 800 historical sites of which over 600 are accompanied by paintings. She has recorded over 35,000 archaeological images and published multiple papers and books.
In 2005, Niède was awarded the Prince Claus Fund Award, an award or grant given to individuals or organizations in hopes of providing more opportunities for the future. She is now retired on a pension from the French government at the age of 73, but continues to lead excavations and push for the development of Brazil as a whole.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian archaeologist who was born on the 12 March 1933 in Jaú
Jaú
Jaú is a municipality in the center of the state of São Paulo, in Brazil. The population in 2008 was 133,333 and the area is 690.18 km². The elevation is 522 m...
, in the state of São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. She has won international recognition and support for her struggle to protect Brazil's rich archaeological heritage.
Donning a classic and casual style, Niède Guidon can usually be seen wearing old tennis shoes, jeans and a t-shirt during her typical 18-hour, 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) walks workdays.
Parque Nacional Serra de Capivara
Niède Guidon is the head archaeologist at the Serra da Capivara National ParkSerra da Capivara National Park
Serra da Capivara National Park is a national park in the north east of Brazil. It has many prehistoric paintings. The park was created to protect the prehistoric artifacts and paintings found there. It became a World Heritage Site in 1991. Its head archaeologist is Niède Guidon...
in Piauí
Piauí
Piauí is one of the states of Brazil, located in the northeastern part of the country.Piauí has the shortest coastline of any of the non-landlocked Brazilian states at 66 km , and the capital, Teresina, is the only state capital in the north east to be located inland...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
where she and her colleagues have discovered over 800 pre-historic sites concerned with the occupation of America by human beings.
The park encompasses an area protected by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
(United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). Niède Guidon is responsible for that area's preservation, development and management. Her findings and excavations have led to the possibility of previously believed early-American dates to be exceeded by more than 30,000 years.
Contributions
Niède Guidon's contributions to the Brazilian community have been more than appreciated and her efforts have been greatly admired and recognized in both community and archaeological development. She has set up a cultural center, the Musée de l'Homme Américain, and numerous community support centers in local communities that offer civil services, education, medical aid, and training in ecologyEcology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
, prehistory, and the restoration of archaeological artifacts.
Niède Guidon has also made attempts at improving the educational opportunites in Brazil by leading petitions to build schools. She successfully established five new schools in local communities with a teaching faculty from the University of São Paulo
University of São Paulo
Universidade de São Paulo is a public university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is the largest Brazilian university and one of the country's most prestigious...
, but they have slowly declined in activity due to the lack of governmental structure. A ceramics business was begun by her efforts (Cerâmica de Capivora), and when it began turning a profit she gave the reins over to local entrepreneurs to assist in their business endeavors. Not only does she contribute to the welfare of children, she does her best to offer opportunities to the less appreciated females of Brazil. She formed the view the incredibly sexist and hateful view that male employees fail to keep a sanitary working environment. So now, therefore hires only females as park guards, which, being blatant gender discrimination, is in direct violation of Brazilian human rights legislation; and a great example of how the Brazilian state has trouble enforcing rule of law in remote parts of the country.
Niède Guidon holds a degree in Natural History from the University of São Paulo
University of São Paulo
Universidade de São Paulo is a public university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is the largest Brazilian university and one of the country's most prestigious...
and a doctorate in Archaeology from the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. In 1978 she petitioned the Brazilian government to create the Parque Nacional Serra de Capivara which solidified the next 25 years of her archaeological dedication. Her findings were first brought to the spotlight in 1986 with a publication in the British magazine Nature
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
, in which she claimed to have discovered 32,000 year old hearths and human artifacts. In 1988 she began a partnership with IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) that led to the continuation of her excavations.
Pedra Furada site
Of Niède Guidon's most famous historical sites is the Toca do Boqueira de Pedra Furada ("Pedra Furada Site") which is located in the São Raimundo NonatoSão Raimundo Nonato
São Raimundo Nonato is a city located in the southern region of the state of the Piauí, Brazil, and is 576 km away from the capital, Teresina. It is known for been the city where the administration the Serra da Capivara National Park is located....
region in Brazil. She came across a structure resembling a bonfire equipped with arranged logs and stones that date back to 48,700 years ago, though there is undisputed evidence dating back to 10,000 years. Pedra Furada is a rock shelter 55 feet (17 m) deep that portrays over 1,150 pre-historic images along its walls. Here she has found thousands of artifacts that possibly suggest human handiwork.
She has discovered over 800 historical sites of which over 600 are accompanied by paintings. She has recorded over 35,000 archaeological images and published multiple papers and books.
Geofacts or artifacts?
Niède Guidon's controversial findings have questioned the conventional wisdom that humans came to the Americas just 15,000 years ago, while some of her sites date to in excess of 45,000 years ago. The most apparent argument in the Pedra Furada excavations is the questioning of Guidon's findings to be "geofacts" or "artifacts", whereas geofacts are fragments created by the natural environment and geological conditions. While American archaeologists are on either side of the fence, some accepting the dates unconditionally while others opt for dismissal, but the evidence keeps piling up. With numerous staff members and multiple projects continuously in motion, Guidon's hope of rewriting history as we know it keeps building itself a stronger case as each site is more carefully observed.In 2005, Niède was awarded the Prince Claus Fund Award, an award or grant given to individuals or organizations in hopes of providing more opportunities for the future. She is now retired on a pension from the French government at the age of 73, but continues to lead excavations and push for the development of Brazil as a whole.