Paiján Point Technology in Brazil? Morpho-technological Considerations on a Crystal Quartz Point
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 24032960 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Marta De Almeida (0000-0001-9369-3632, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, corresponding author), Antonio Pérez-Balarezo (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú), Marina González-Varas (0000-0001-9471-2487, Histoire Naturelle des Humanités Préhistoriques), Mauro Fontes (Universidade Federal de Pernambuco) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-11 |
| Publication date | 2026-08-17 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | PaleoAmerica (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2055-5563 • E-ISSN: 2055-5571 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/20555563.2026.2712122 |
| OpenAlex | W7203618467 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 19 |
We report a Paiján-style crystal quartz projectile point from Ilha dos Moisés (São Francisco River, Northeast Brazil), far beyond the securely documented Andean range of Paiján technology and recovered from a surface palimpsest. Using diagnostic criteria, morphometrics, and technological comparison with the Peruvian reference series, we assess similarity at the artifact level. The specimen displays a pronounced apical “needle,” a convex-sided body, and a barbed basal unit, shaped through controlled bifacial thinning by soft-hammer percussion and localized pressure retouch within the notches, resulting in marked bilateral symmetry and minimal thickness variation. Selective cortex retention and blank orientation to enhance internal planar features further suggest deliberate aesthetic planning and display value. Despite the surface context, the specimen anchors an artifact-level identification of the Paiján style in Northeast Brazil and provides explicit criteria for future comparative testing.
Basal plane · Blank · Crystal (programming language) · Planar · Point (geometry) · Projectile · Projectile point · Quartz · Similarity (geometry) · Building materials and conservation · Mineralogy and Gemology Studies · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
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The El Palto Phase of Northern Perú
A Pre-agricultural Occupation on the Central Coast of Peru
Early Lithic Industries of Western South America
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |