Paulo Alfeu Junqueira Duarte

Who was Paulo Alfeu Junqueira Duarte?

Paulo Duarte, full name Paulo Alfeu Junqueira Duarte, was a Brazilian archaeologist and humanist. He was the first person to practice archaeology and advocate for the protection of archaeological sites on a large scale in Brazil.

Duarte excavated hundreds of shell middens throughout Brazil which had been mined for lime since the beginning of the colonial period. He established the Pre-Historical State Commission of São Paulo in 1985, housed at the University of São Paulo, to preserve the objects he discovered. He also conducted excavations along the coast of São Paulo state, which discovered a much-publicized pre-historic human skull known as "Miss Sambaqui."

In addition to his archaeological work, Duarte was a leading proponent of Brazilian culture, folklore and art. He argued vociferously for the preservation of the unique cultures of the indigenous peoples in Brazil. With Mário de Andrade and Sérgio Milliet, he cofounded the São Paulo Department of Culture in 1935. In 1937, in retaliation for various public remarks, he was exiled from Brazil by the government of Getúlio Vargas.