RIO DE JANEIRO – "Nissan Expedition: In search of Brazil's beginnings," a project where media and researchers visited Brazil's historic archaeology sites, has concluded after the stage in the State of Pará, at Alter do Chão. The caravan of Nissan Frontier trucks drove across six states in five stages on an adventure that began in September 2017. The Expedition's objective was to contribute to culture and scientific research by exploring the wealth of Brazil's historic rock paintings – which are not well known by Brazilians and are rarely covered by the media.
The adventurers who took part in the five stages saw hundreds of images of animals, plants and human beings painted on rocks and stones – some of which are 30,000 years old – like those found in the Serra da Capivara range in the State of Piauí. Participants also got close looks at items found in archaeological digs, like the remains of campfires of people who lived in the Piauí sierra region 50,000 years ago.
Nissan's project began in September 2017, in the State of Minas Gerais, with visits to such sites as the Lapa do Sumidouro cliff, in the Serra do Cipó range, and to the Peter Lund museum that has the skull of Luzia, the oldest human (H. sapiens) remains found in the Americas to this date; it's estimated to be 12,500 to 13,000 years old.
Then, the explorers went to the Serra da Capivara range in São Raimundo Nonato, in the State of Piauí, which has numerous sites with rock paintings, some of which are considered to be the most important of Brazil and the world and recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage sites. To arrive there, the group crossed the States of Bahia and Pernambuco. Following that, they moved on to the State of Mato Grosso, where they observed the most significant rock paintings found in the region of the Chapada dos Guimarães plateau and in the city of Jaciara.
The State of Bahia, which has such important archaeological sites as the Serra das Paridas range in the Lençóis region, also hosted the project. The city of Morro do Chapéu, with its hundreds of sites, was another destination of the Expedition in this Northeastern State. In the State of Pará, on the last stage, the Nissan project visited the region of Monte Alegre State Park to see rock paintings like those of Pedra do Mirante and of Pedra do Pilão.
During all of the stages, the adventurers were accompanied by archaeology experts in the paintings of each state who provided details about the archaeological finds, like the traditions behind each location of the paintings.
In its collaboration with the development of tourism at the archaeological sites, Nissan left legacies at some of them. Among the support from Nissan, highlights are the repairs of the deck and access trails at the Lapa do Sumidouro archaeological site, in the Serra do Cipó range, in the State of Minas Gerais; the donation of audiovisual equipment to the Chico Mendes Institute for the Conservation of Biodiversity (ICMBIO); lectures at the headquarters of Chapada dos Guimarães Park, in the State of Mato Grosso; and the installation of signs to facilitate visits and the acquisition of uniforms for employees of Monte Alegre State Park, in the State of Pará.
In all, some 3,800 kilometers were covered on asphalt and dirt roads, on foot or via rivers like the Amazon and the Tapajós. More than 80 participants in the Expedition – including journalists, archaeologists and other invited guests, as well as a support team of 30 people – traveled on the five stages of the Expedition.
The following are data figures of the "Nissan expedition: in search of Brazil's beginnings":
Where did it go?
6 States, 19 cities/locations
Minas Gerais (1st stage): Serra do Cipó (a district of Santana do Riacho), Lagoa Santa, Matozinhos, and Belo Horizonte
Piauí (2nd stage): Casa Nova, Remanso, Santana do Sobrado, Sobradinho, in the State of Bahia; São Raimundo Nonato, in the State of Piauí, and Petrolina, in the State of Pernambuco
Mato Grosso (3rd stage): Cuiabá, Jangada, Jaciara, and Cidade de Pedra (in Chapada dos Guimarães)
Bahia (4th stage): Lençóis and Morro do Chapéu
Pará (5th stage): Monte Alegre, Santana do Tapará, and Santarém
How many kilometers were traveled (by pickup, on foot, and by boat)?
Minas Gerais (1st stage): 850 km
Piauí (2nd stage): 932 km
Mato Grosso (3rd stage): 860 km
Bahia (4th stage): 610 km
Pará (5th stage): 549 km, 60 km of which on a ferry between Santarém and Monte Alegre
How many people?
The 5 stages involved 110 people, including journalists, invited guests, archaeologists, and logistical and support team
How many archaeological sites were visited?
18, in all. In the State of Minas Gerais, alone, there were five
How many archaeologists and/or historians took part?
6
Minas Gerais (1st stage): Alenice Baeta
Piauí (2nd stage): Alenice Baeta and Niéde Guidon
Mato Grosso (3rd stage): Caroline Bachelet and Levy Figuti
Bahia (4th stage): Carlos Etchevarne
Pará (5th stage): Edith Pereira
"Nissan Expedition: In search of Brazil's beginnings"
The Expedition, which visited archaeological sites in the States of Minas Gerais, Piauí, Mato Grosso, Bahia, and Pará, upheld Nissan's commitment to being increasingly present in the daily lives of Brazilians and, thus, to unite the automaker's products with actions that contribute to the life of the nation. In this case, it was to contribute to culture and scientific research by displaying the wealth of Brazilian rock paintings, which are often better known and admired by foreigners than by Brazilians themselves.
In 2014, Nissan inaugurated its Brazilian industrial complex in the city of Resende, Rio de Janeiro and, since then, it has become more and more integrated with society and has supported the nation's social and cultural development. The Japanese press believes that there are important points in Brazilian history and the work of many of its citizens, that are not well known by the people, in general. Therefore, the company decided to begin thematic expeditions that would take journalists and other invited guests to get a closer look at the wealth of the nation's history and to help spread that knowledge in cultural support.
Nissan Frontier
In order to arrive at the destinations of each stage, the group of adventurers traveled in 15 Nissan Frontier pickups. This model began to be sold on the Brazilian market in March 2017. Besides its modern concept and its totally new and robust design, the key feature of the 12th generation of the Nissan Frontier is its even stronger structure, with a reinforced chassis, which is also lighter and more efficient.
At the present time, on the Brazilian market, the Nissan Frontier line comes in two versions – SE and LE – both of which have a double cab, 4x4 traction, and a modern twin turbo 2.3 diesel engine. The Nissan Frontier is sold in 33 Latin American markets and is one of the automaker's best-selling models in the region.
Award-winner
The Nissan Frontier was Brazil's most awarded pickup in 2017, receiving 12 recognitions from the automotive trade press. The Nissan pickup was chosen the best in its segment by the following awards:
"Pickup of the year 2018", Autoesporte magazine, organizer of "Car of the Year" in Brazil
"Best Pickup 2017", Carpress website
"Best Pickup 2017", Robb Report Brasil
"Best Pickup 2017", "Os Escolhidos" Award
"Best Pickup 2017", by the Brazilian Automotive Press Association (ABIAUTO)
"Best Pickup 2017", L' Auto Preferita
"10Best", Frontier as the best pickup of the year, conferred by Car and Driver (Brazil)
"Best Pickup 2018", Car Magazine Brasil
"Automotive Sensation 2017", by the Brazilian Automotive Leaders (LAB) Award, of the Automóveis e Caminhões journal
"Best Pickup 2017", UOL Carros Award
"O + Premiado 2017", Memória Motor website
"Best Buy 2017", Motorshow magazine, in its annual sales guide.
Contact
Alexandre Carvalho
Communication Specialist — Product
Nissan do Brasil
+55 11 4504-3214
alexandre.carvalho@nissan.com.br
Ana Genaro
Corporate Communication
Nissan do Brasil
+55 21 2134-9194
ana.genaro@nissan.com.br
Mila Poli
Corporate Communication Manager
Nissan do Brasil
+55 21 2134-9009
mila.poli@nissan.com.br
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Get more information about Nissan in Brazil here.