Learning about our past through play: Zooarchaeology as an educational approach
Thiago Fossile, PhD researcher from the ERC TRADITION project at ICTA-UAB, and colleagues have published a book entitled "Zooarqueologia: Fauna em Sambaquis".
The book aims at enhancing awareness of the rich faunal diversity hidden in Brazilian sambaquis, and to contribute to people’s understanding of the long-term human interactions with the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. The book targets mainly young audiences (aged 10 to 14 years) from public and private schools in Brazil, who at this age are being introduced to the subject of Archaeology through the study of Brazilian Regional History.
Not only is the book fun to read, but it can also be played as a game with some of the pages turning into game cards. Combining the book with the card game creates multiple opportunities for interaction between readers/players while learning about the co-evolution of human and animal communities in this unique biodiversity hotspot.
Over 2000 copies have been printed and distributed to schools, museums and institutions around Babitonga Bay (Santa Catarina, Brazil), and the material can also be downloaded for free at the following link: https://linktr.ee/zooarqueologia.
This project received funding from the “Prêmio Elisabete Anderle de Apoio à Cultura – Edição 2020” from the Governo do Estado de Santa Catarina, through the Fundação Catarinense de Cultura, and it is also an outreach activity of the TRADITION project. In the first year, the project was awarded a "Prêmio Rodrigo Melo Franco de Andrade - Edição 2022" as an initiative of public recognition of social relevance and exemplary character in the promotion of Brazilian Cultural Heritage. Also in 2022, the project received additional funding from the “Prêmio Elisabete Anderle de Apoio à Cultura” to make the 2nd edition and new copies of the book. Soon, more content will be available on the project's social media.