The development of the Atlas of the Colonial Amazon is being driven by the principles of open science. This approach allows sharing and collaboration between researchers, promoting transparency and data accessibility. The first stage involves adjusting and integrating data from two pre-existing databases: AmazonArch and Vilas Indígenas Pombalinas (VIP or Pombaline Indigenous Villages in English). Below, we explain the methodological process used to consolidate and organize this information in an efficient and accessible manner.

1. Description of the Databases Used

AmazonArch

AmazonArch (Amazonian Archaeological Sites Network) is a network of researchers who share data on archaeological sites in the Amazon. The network was created to compile and systematize archaeological data in a georeferenced database. This database is constantly being updated with primary data provided by researchers and information extracted from published literature.

• AmazonArch content: The database contains information on more than 4,000 archaeological sites in the Amazon Basin. Each site has data such as geographical coordinates, chronological dates (absolute or relative) and, in some cases, detailed information on the ecological, ethnobotanical and archaeobotanical characteristics of the surroundings. These data have varying levels of accuracy, indicating the source and quality of the data obtained.

Vilas Indígenas Pombalinas (VIP)

The VIP project is a collaborative initiative focused on systematizing data on the territorialization of indigenous peoples during the Pombaline reforms (from 1755) and the period of the Directory of Indians. The project gathers information on at least 191 indigenous villages and settlements in Brazil and in Grão-Pará and Maranhão, organized according to the colonial administrative division of the time.

• VIP content: The database contains georeferenced information on settlements, religious missions and other indigenous settlements, including those that were less affected by the reformist legislation. The information is available in a spreadsheet and on an interactive map, accessible for consultation and research. This database is an essential tool for educational projects and indigenous claims for land and citizenship.
  
  

2. Methodological Process of Data Filtering and Integration

To create the Atlas, the following methodological steps are being carried out:

• Metadata filtering: We started by filtering the metadata from the AmazonArch and VIP databases to extract the most relevant information for the Atlas of the Colonial Amazon Project. This process allows us to focus on useful data for the construction of the Atlas, facilitating the integration of information from different sources.
• Selection of Specific Records: In the case of AmazonArch, we chose to use only the most recent archaeological records, from 1000 AD onwards, reducing the database to approximately 130 records. This selection was made to focus on the most representative data from the colonial period.
• Integration of the Settlements and Missions Database: After the filtering process, we are integrating our own database with information on settlements and religious missions. This integration is essential to enrich the Atlas with data on the missionary presence and indigenous territorial organization in the colonial Amazon.
  
  

3. Next steps

The next phases of the project include complementing and refining the data through convergence between the pre-existing databases and those developed specifically for this initiative. In addition, the geolocation of all the points of interest identified will be mapped.

Afterwards, a database will be set up to analyze territorial displacements, as well as to record plant remains found in both archaeological sites and anthropogenic forests.