State school project unites archaeology, history, and Amazonian culture in Santarém
Through workshops, research, and simulated excavations, students from the Antônio Batista Belo de Carvalho State School dive into the archaeological heritage of western Pará
Students from the Antônio Batista Belo de Carvalho State School, in the municipality of Santarém, Lower Amazon Integration Region, western Pará, are experiencing an innovative learning experience with the project "Archaeology in school: digging knowledge – from the ground to the blackboard," which combines science, history, and Amazonian culture through practices developed with the 2nd year high school classes, within the curricular component "Paths of Human and Social Sciences Applied."
With visits to the João Fona Cultural Center, simulations of archaeological excavation, pottery workshops inspired by Marajoara and Tapajônica traditions, model making, debates, use of interactive platforms in the classroom, and the setup of an interactive exhibition open to the community, approximately 80 students participate in the project, which encourages practical and meaningful learning about the region's archaeological heritage.
Living memory - According to teacher Eliane Azevedo, responsible for the initiative, the idea - which originated from a personal dream in her adolescence - today transforms the school routine into a vibrant space of memory, investigation, and student protagonism. "Archaeology allows our students to understand history not just through books, but through practical experience. They become true protagonists of knowledge, re-signifying what they learn in the classroom," emphasized Eliane Azevedo.
For her, the differential of the proposal lies in the active involvement of the students. "The project has sparked curiosity and enthusiasm among the students, in addition to strengthening the sense of belonging to the Amazonian territory. The actions also engage with different areas of knowledge, making learning interdisciplinary and attractive," highlighted the educator.
About the project, student Rebeca Santos, from the 2nd year of high school, said that "what caught my attention the most was the creativity we developed in each participation and the organization to see the project grow at each stage. The activity that marked me the most was the archaeological excavation simulation. Whenever I talk about the project, this experience comes to mind because it was very significant and transported us directly into the world of Archaeology. For me, the Archaeology in School project is very important because it rescues and values our Amazonian history. It made me look more carefully at the historical and archaeological heritage of Santarém, which needs to be preserved."
Next steps - With the results and engagement of the students, the project already has a new challenge: to prepare an exhibition for Black Consciousness Week in November. The exhibition will present to the school community the productions made by the students, aiming to generate reflection on the importance of preserving the Amazonian archaeological heritage.
In July of this year, the project was registered and qualified in the state stage of the 38th edition of the Rodrigo Melo Franco de Andrade Award, promoted by the National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage (Iphan).
