Paper short abstract:

This presentation will consider the religious and political transformations in one of the largest Jesuit missions of the Brazilian Amazon.

Paper long abstract:

This presentation will consider the religious and political transformations in one of the largest Jesuit missions of the Brazilian Amazon. On the face of things, the period from 1600 to 1760 saw the once huge nation of Tapajó indians become reduced to virtually nothing. Their once powerful women chiefs, prophets and guardians of the desiccated bodies, painted stones were gone. Yet other ritual specialists and special objects had appeared instead. Against a backdrop of a changing regional system of inter-ethnic relations, this presentation will seek to provide a more nuanced history of changes taking place in the area around the Tapajó mission.