French‑Brazilian archaeologist Niède Guidon dies at 92

Archaeologist Niède Guidon, who dedicated her life to researching and preserving the Serra da Capivara, in Piauí state, died on Wednesday (Jun. 4) at the age of 92. The information was posted on the park’s social media. The cause of death has not been announced.

She revealed the park’s cave paintings to the world, which changed our understanding of the peopling of the Americas.

“With courage, ion, and commitment to science, she founded the Museum of the American Man Foundation and fought for decades to protect and disseminate Brazil’s archaeological wealth. Her career leaves an immeasurable legacy for science, culture, and the memory of our country. Her name is forever engraved in history,” a statement from the park reads.

Last year, she received the Almirante Álvaro Alberto 2024 Award. The accolade—awarded annually by Brazil’s National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, the Ministry of Science, and the Brazilian Navy—recognizes Brazilian scientists who have made a significant contribution to science and technology in the country, and had its ceremony held as part of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences’ Great Meeting.

This was yet another title for the scientist who was decorated with the Order of Scientific Merit Grand Cross by the Ministry of Science; the Green Prize, from the peace and ecological organization Paliber; the Prince Claus Prize, from the Dutch government; the Conrado Wessel Foundation Prize for Culture; the Scientist of the Year Award, from the Brazilian Society for the Progress of Science; and the Chevalier de La Légion d’Honneur Award, from the French government.

During her career, Guidon identified more than 700 prehistoric sites—including 426 walls of ancient paintings and evidence of ancient human dwellings in the Serra de Capivara area, in Piauí, according to the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development.

Legacy

Writer Adriana Abujamra, author of the book Niéde Guidon, uma arqueóloga no sertão (“Niéde Guidon, an Archaeologist in the Sertão”), said the specialist brought about a women’s revolution in the interior of Piauí when she arrived in the 1970s.

“She brought about a women’s revolution. She hired only women as park gatekeepers. The park’s current head was just a girl when Guidon arrived. She was inspired by Guidon. She talked about protecting the environment at a time when few people did. If it hadn’t been for her work, we might not even have the cave paintings and the preserved fauna and flora,” she declared.

“She put Brazil on the map of the world’s archaeological discussion on the question of the occupation of the Americas, however controversial her position was at the time. Her significance goes far beyond archaeology. Guidon transformed that region. The first federal university in the interior of the Northeast exists in São Raimundo Nonato because of her hard work,” she added.

In a statement, the government of Piauí said that the archaeologist transformed thousands of lives in the caatinga and her legacy will always be in the memory and hearts of the people of Piauí. According to the statement, since 1973, when she arrived in the Serra da Capivara region, Guidon changed the course of Brazilian archaeology. In the region, she found a wealth of more than a thousand archaeological sites and cave paintings dating back up to 12 thousand years.

“She made it her mission to recognize these riches and transformed the lives of rural dwellers through various social programs. For her, developing and prospering the Serra da Capivara National Park was synonymous with improving the lives of every Piauí citizen who lived in the region,” the government stated.

The director of the National Museum of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Alexandre Kellner, said that he was extremely saddened to hear the news of the death of one of Brazil’s leading archaeologists.

“The contributions made by Professor Niède Guidon will reverberate for a long time, not only in the field of archaeology, but also in all those who work to preserve our country’s scientific, historical, and cultural heritage,” he stated.