São José das Botijas ou as Botijas de Piranhas: a formação de um imaginário histórico - cultural no sertão Paraibano (São José de Piranhas, 1930-1950).

Abstract

This paper aims to problematize the "appearences" of stone bottles in the city of Sao Jose de Piranhas, in Paraiba's hinterland, between the years 1930 and 1950. Furthermore, it discusses about the local imaginary of such practices by the local ones that belonged to various social groups. Finally, it is analyzed the relationship between banditry and practices of hoarding of personal property such as gold coins, silver or bronze jewelry or objects of sentimental value, causing the phenomenon known popularly as stone bottles. In the survey, it was very important the appropriation of the concept of "cultural imaginary" by the historian Sandra Jatahy Pesavento, as well as the concepts of "enchantment/disenchantment", "credible /incredible" and "buried treasure" by historian Socorro Cipriano. For this study, it is used oral history as a methodology for the production and analysis of sources.