O papel do município na preservação do patrimônio arqueológico

The preservation of archaeological heritage is linked to the development of a safeguard system that involves public and private institutions, community participation, legislation, public policies, diverse knowledge, funding, among others. In Brazil, the system operates through relationships between the Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional (IPHAN), state and municipal cultural agencies, museums, universities, private institutions, and civil society. In the Northern Coast of the State of Pernambuco, archaeological research has identified and analyzed various traces of indigenous settlements, colonial military fortifications, ancient sugarcane mills, and structures in historical centers in the municipalities of Abreu e Lima, Goiana, Igarassu, Ilha de Itamaracá, Itapissuma and Paulista. These archaeological sites are threatened by urbanization, limited community engagement, absence of local experts, lack of public policies, low private sector interest, and scarcity of resources. This article aims to consider municipal preservation systems, their legal instruments, and the challenges in preserving these heritages. To achieve this, the article analyzes cases from the municipalities of the Northern Coast of Pernambuco, where we perceive a lack of uniformity in the legal framework and organizational structure, resulting in changes, inequalities, and discontinuities in the municipal preservation system.