Ôlho D'água: Local History and Archaeology

Ôlho D'água links a place name with an unusually specific archaeological topic: the locality gave its name to the Olho D’Água I and II sites, both of which are in Jaguaruna. What makes these sites interesting is the different evidence they contain. Interpreted living areas, ancillary structures and river sediment offer insights ranging from land use to an extraordinary flood of the Urussanga River.

Two Sites, Different Sets of Measurements

Olho D’Água II measured 100 × 30 × 0.5 meters on average. An archaeological survey and an excavation took place there; the site was destroyed to provide road fill. Olho D’Água II was four kilometers from the beach. The measurements characterize the site, while the distance to the beach locates it geographically; each answers a different question about orientation.

Olho D’Água I measured 100 × 50 × 1 meter on average. At both sites, the first measurement is 100 meters; the second and third measurements are greater at Olho D’Água I. As average measurements, these figures give a sense of the site’s size, but not its exact outline.

Traces of Dwellings and Their Interpretation

Olho D’Água I comprises five patches of black earth. The most significant layer was interpreted as a circular living area with a diameter of 15 meters; two other patches were also interpreted as living areas. The 15-meter measurement refers to the main interpreted area, not to the overall size of the site. The black earth areas also included two ancillary structures. The site’s surface was used for cultivation.

The stratigraphy—the sequence of archaeological layers—suggests a sudden abandonment followed by resettlement. This adds a temporal perspective to the history of the site, alongside the spatial interpretations of the living areas.

The Urussanga River as an Environmental Clue

Olho D’Água I is on the left bank of the Urussanga River. A layer of fluvial sediment up to ten centimeters thick documents an extraordinary flood. Fluvial sediment is material transported or deposited by a river. The sediment layer thus offers a different perspective from the living areas and ancillary structures: it preserves evidence of a natural event, while the other details concern human use.

Archaeology as a Travel Interest

If you’re planning a trip with an archaeological focus, you can decide what to explore based on the questions that interest you most: living areas and settlement sequence, river history, or a comparison of different measurements. Olho D’Água I brings together living areas and stratigraphy with the Urussanga flood; Olho D’Água II offers a different set of measurements, as well as the archaeological survey and the site’s destruction. When looking for a vacation rental, consider where you’d like to stay. If you’re planning a visit, check access in advance.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Tubarão, Timbó, Rio Negrinho, Ascurra, Sambaqui, Corupá, Fragosos, Araquari.

For the broader travel overview: Santa Catarina.