Niède Guidon
| Niède Guidon | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 12 March 1933 Jaú, São Paulo, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Fields | Archaeology |
| Institutions |
Serra da Capivara National Park in Piauí, Brazil |
| Alma mater |
University of São Paulo University of Paris (Sorbonne) |
| Known for | Protecting Brazil's threatened archaeological sites |
| Notable awards | Prince Claus Award |
Niède Guidon (Portuguese pronunciation: [niˈɛdʒi ɡiˈdõ]) is a Brazilian archaeologist who was born on the 12 March 1933 in Jaú, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. She has won international recognition and support for her struggle to protect Brazil's rich archaeological heritage.
Since the late 20th century, she has excavated hundreds of prehistoric sites in Piauí, Brazil. Her dating of findings indicates that human settlement preceded the earliest known in North America by tens of thousands of years, which has generated controversy. In addition, she has theorized that some of the early ancient peoples may have arrived from Africa by boat, rather than over the land bridge from northeast Asia.
Guidon holds a degree in Natural History from the University of São Paulo and a doctorate in Archaeology from the Sorbonne in Paris, France. " In 2005, Niède was awarded the Prince Claus Award, an award or grant given to individuals or organizations in hopes of providing more opportunities for the future. She is now retired on a pension from the French government at the age of 73, but continues to lead excavations and push for the development of Brazil as a whole.
Guidon has set up a cultural center, the Musée de l'Homme Américain, and numerous community support centers in local communities. These offer civil services, education, medical aid, and training in ecology, prehistory, and the restoration of archaeological artifacts. Guidon has also made attempts at improving the educational opportunities in Brazil by leading petitions to build schools. She successfully established five new schools in local communities with a teaching faculty from the University of São Paulo, but they have slowly declined in activity due to the lack of governmental structure. A ceramics business was begun by her efforts (Cerâmica de Capivora). When it began turning a profit she gave the reins over to local entrepreneurs to assist in their business endeavors.
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