Roberto Avila | Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (original) (raw)

Masters dissertation by Roberto Avila

Research paper thumbnail of Avila, Roberto. 2014. Magdalenian portable art: analysis of a collection from Dordogne and reflections over its replicas .

This master thesis consists in analyzing artefacts of Magdalenian portable art and their respecti... more This master thesis consists in analyzing artefacts of Magdalenian portable art and their respective replicas. The research had two main goals: to establish a profile for the approached collection and to comprehend the scientific value of portable art replicas. They were both carried out through examination of extrinsic and intrinsic aspects of the artifacts and, later, by comparing a sample of replicas to their matched authentic objects. Upon examination of these latter, it becomes clear that replicas that fail in maintaining those natural features depend on a good documentation of the original artefact in order to be reliably studied. On the other hand, decorative aspects have responded well to the study on copies. By demonstrating that the replicas can be successfully used in scientific analysis, this paper raises insights for the study of the collections and the healthy conciliation between research and conservation of portable art objects

Undergraduate monography by Roberto Avila

Research paper thumbnail of Avila, R. 2011. Arqueologia Amazônica - Questões Cronológicas e o Período Formativo da Região de Santarém

The Amazon awakes interest in academics and curious from various fields of study and of various n... more The Amazon awakes interest in academics and curious from various fields of study and of various nationalities for its incredible biodiversity, water resources and unique cultural aspects considered by many as fascinating. In the archaeological area, since the late XIX century, the acquisition of information about the ancient aboriginal people who lived in the Amazon even before the Portuguese colonization of Brazil is pursued. However, even if the research in the region has augmented, the information obtained does not allow researchers to reach firm conclusions about the ancestors of Brazilian aborigines. Day after day, there are an increasing number of people seeking answers to their questions, for the region's past remains a mystery. This dissertation intends to present an overview of the discussions developed, since the 40's, about the complex issues of pottery chronology involved in them. It also examines the different interpretations considering the cultural development of the peoples of the Amazon forest, taking into account environmental aspects and theories of emergence and extinction of the alleged Amazonian chiefdoms. In addition, the use of data collected in recent surveys in the region of “Santarem-PA”, Brazil, helps in trying to enter in discussions involving the formative period of the Amazon

Papers by Roberto Avila

Research paper thumbnail of Avila, R. 2016. The scientific value of replicas through the analytic experience of Magdalenian portable art. In. Quagliuolo, M.; Delfino, D. (Eds.), Quality Management of Cultural Heritage: problems and best practices.

In this paper, Roberto Ávila highlights the potentiality of mobile Upper Paleolithic art replicas... more In this paper, Roberto Ávila highlights the potentiality of mobile Upper Paleolithic art replicas for education, valorisation, preservation and study of the context. The author presents the example of some replicas of Madgalenian portable art from Dordogne (France) and calls attention to the importance of casts in relation to the fragility of the original artefacts, for using in teaching and research activities.

Research paper thumbnail of Avila, Roberto. 2014. Magdalenian portable art: analysis of a collection from Dordogne and reflections over its replicas .

This master thesis consists in analyzing artefacts of Magdalenian portable art and their respecti... more This master thesis consists in analyzing artefacts of Magdalenian portable art and their respective replicas. The research had two main goals: to establish a profile for the approached collection and to comprehend the scientific value of portable art replicas. They were both carried out through examination of extrinsic and intrinsic aspects of the artifacts and, later, by comparing a sample of replicas to their matched authentic objects. Upon examination of these latter, it becomes clear that replicas that fail in maintaining those natural features depend on a good documentation of the original artefact in order to be reliably studied. On the other hand, decorative aspects have responded well to the study on copies. By demonstrating that the replicas can be successfully used in scientific analysis, this paper raises insights for the study of the collections and the healthy conciliation between research and conservation of portable art objects

Research paper thumbnail of Avila, R. 2011. Arqueologia Amazônica - Questões Cronológicas e o Período Formativo da Região de Santarém

The Amazon awakes interest in academics and curious from various fields of study and of various n... more The Amazon awakes interest in academics and curious from various fields of study and of various nationalities for its incredible biodiversity, water resources and unique cultural aspects considered by many as fascinating. In the archaeological area, since the late XIX century, the acquisition of information about the ancient aboriginal people who lived in the Amazon even before the Portuguese colonization of Brazil is pursued. However, even if the research in the region has augmented, the information obtained does not allow researchers to reach firm conclusions about the ancestors of Brazilian aborigines. Day after day, there are an increasing number of people seeking answers to their questions, for the region's past remains a mystery. This dissertation intends to present an overview of the discussions developed, since the 40's, about the complex issues of pottery chronology involved in them. It also examines the different interpretations considering the cultural development of the peoples of the Amazon forest, taking into account environmental aspects and theories of emergence and extinction of the alleged Amazonian chiefdoms. In addition, the use of data collected in recent surveys in the region of “Santarem-PA”, Brazil, helps in trying to enter in discussions involving the formative period of the Amazon

Research paper thumbnail of Avila, R. 2016. The scientific value of replicas through the analytic experience of Magdalenian portable art. In. Quagliuolo, M.; Delfino, D. (Eds.), Quality Management of Cultural Heritage: problems and best practices.

In this paper, Roberto Ávila highlights the potentiality of mobile Upper Paleolithic art replicas... more In this paper, Roberto Ávila highlights the potentiality of mobile Upper Paleolithic art replicas for education, valorisation, preservation and study of the context. The author presents the example of some replicas of Madgalenian portable art from Dordogne (France) and calls attention to the importance of casts in relation to the fragility of the original artefacts, for using in teaching and research activities.