Casas subterrâneas Kaingang na comunidade de Rio das Cobras sob uma perspectiva etnomatemática

Abstract

Searches carried out in different scientific dissemination databases show that there are studies on Kaingang culture, including some works related to the mathematics of this people. However, these studies generally address the numbering system they use and their craftsmanship. With the intention of broadening the understanding of the ethnomathematics practiced by this group and valuing Kaingang culture, we focused on one of their cultural practices, seeking to answer the following question: What knowledge is present in the construction of subterranean houses of the Kaingang Indigenous culture in the Rio das Cobras community? This qualitative investigation, conducted within the methodological framework of Oral History, aims to understand the traditional knowledge present in the construction of subterranean houses of the Kaingang people in the Rio das Cobras community, in Nova Laranjeiras – PR, Brazil. Data production was based on oral and written records (documents, photographs, etc.) and semi-structured interviews, recorded in audio and video with members of the community. The data were analyzed with reference to Oral History, seeking to understand the mathematical knowledge and practices within this culture. As results, the research revealed information about different types of houses: subterranean, gable-roofed, split-wood, and palm-leaf houses, each with distinct purposes. It also highlighted a variety of materials, processes, and techniques used in construction, as well as the methods for selecting and employing these materials. Such knowledge arises from lived experiences and practices, passed down from generation to generation. The study unveiled knowledge that goes far beyond housing construction, encompassing ways of organizing community life, experiences, relationships with nature and the environment, and concerns with cultural preservation and the future of the community.