Marine Archaeological Sanctuaries on the Brazilian Coast — Summary Brazil has a coastline of approximately 8,500 km, rich in underwater cultural heritage (UCH), including shipwrecks, submerged port structures, religious sites, and shellmounds. Although there is no official legal category called “marine archaeological sanctuaries,” several protected marine and coastal areas in the state of Rio de Janeiro are relevant for underwater archaeology. Examples include: Arraial do Cabo Marine Extractive Reserve – protects marine resources; potential for submerged heritage. Tamoios Ecological Station – includes marine zones and islands in Ilha Grande Bay. Aventureiro Sustainable Development Reserve – manages marine and coastal environments with traditional communities. Academic research has identified these areas as significant for cultural heritage, but no official list of marine archaeological sanctuaries currently exists in Brazil. Likewise, there are no formal legal designations specifically titled “marine archaeological sanctuaries” linked to Carlos Eduardo Thompson (Carlos Eduardo Thompson Alves de Souza), although his work involves remote sensing, underwater archaeological research, and mapping in Rio de Janeiro. Shellmounds (sambaquis) along the southern coast are another key example of coastal heritage, sometimes partially submerged, offering important archaeological evidence of early human–marine interactions. In short: Brazil has extensive underwater heritage potential, especially along the coast of Rio de Janeiro, but marine archaeological sanctuaries are currently more a conceptual or academic idea than a legally established system.

Marine Archaeological Sanctuaries on the Brazilian Coast — Summary

Brazil has a coastline of approximately 8,500 km, rich in underwater cultural heritage (UCH), including shipwrecks, submerged port structures, religious sites, and shellmounds. Although there is no official legal category called “marine archaeological sanctuaries,” several protected marine and coastal areas in the state of Rio de Janeiro are relevant for underwater archaeology. Examples include:

• Arraial do Cabo Marine Extractive Reserve – protects marine resources; potential for submerged heritage.

• Tamoios Ecological Station – includes marine zones and islands in Ilha Grande Bay.

• Aventureiro Sustainable Development Reserve – manages marine and coastal environments with traditional communities.

Academic research has identified these areas as significant for cultural heritage, but no official list of marine archaeological sanctuaries currently exists in Brazil. Likewise, there are no formal legal designations specifically titled “marine archaeological sanctuaries” linked to Carlos Eduardo Thompson (Carlos Eduardo Thompson Alves de Souza), although his work involves remote sensing, underwater archaeological research, and mapping in Rio de Janeiro.

Shellmounds (sambaquis) along the southern coast are another key example of coastal heritage, sometimes partially submerged, offering important archaeological evidence of early human–marine interactions.

In short:

Brazil has extensive underwater heritage potential, especially along the coast of Rio de Janeiro, but marine archaeological sanctuaries are currently more a conceptual or academic idea than a legally established system.