known as brazil's capital of surf, saquarema is located on rio's costa do sol (sun coast), about 100 km from rio de janeiro. this region was originally inhabited by indigenous tamoio tribes of fishermen, who specialized in mollusks, easy to find due to the geography of this coastal region.

these tribes also hunted and lived off the fruits found in the local rich vegetation.

much about the local tribes was learned via a type of archeological site, called sambaquis, also known as concheiros or casqueiros (shell mounds),  are deposits of organic material that calcified over time, preserving a rich and detailed account of the lives and customs of the people who made them - their tools, what they ate, and even their health.