Tupinambá astronomical traditions in Claude D’Abbeville’s view

Abstract

This work presents one of the most important historical reports about Brazilian indigenous groups that holds ethnoastronomical information: Histoire de la mission des pères capucins en l’isle de Marignan et terres circonvoisines où est traicté des singularitez admirables & des moeurs merveilleuses des indiens habitans de ce pais, by Claude D’Abbeville, published in 1614. This report contains descriptions about constellations, calendar systems and some empirical astronomical knowledge. The objectives of this work are to become familiar with ethnoastronomical systems developed by the tupinambás indians of Maranhão as described and interpreted by this French missionary. In addition, the historicals informations are compared with recent ethnoastronomical studies on some currently existent indigenous groups.