Conflict, Memory and Material Culture The Archaeology of the Contestado War in Brazil (1912-1916)

This chapter considers the study of post-conflict landscapes in Brazil. Brazil has often been characterized as a violent society for several reasons, not least because of its very visible social inequalities. The chapter presents case study of the Contestado War aim to demonstrate that material culture is a powerful tool and can shed important new light on subaltern stories. The Contestado War occurred in the southern region of Brazil between 1912 and 1916, opposing the local population, known as sertaneja or cabocla, against the state and federal military forces. Archaeology has only recently been added to this burgeoning field. It may seem odd that Brazilian archaeologists have ignored the materialities of this war for so long, but this comes down to the history of archaeology in Brazil. A program of public archaeology offers a means for the valorization of local identities and a way of highlighting the continuing economic and social struggles within the region.