Publications
AltarData: A novel annotated dataset for object detection in the Brazilian heritage altars using deep learning
A novel annotated dataset, AltarData, achieves high accuracy in object detection within Brazilian heritage altars using deep learning, with validation accuracies reaching up to 97.3% for tabernacles and an F1-score of 79% in test experiments. This breakthrough addresses a critical gap in available datasets for cultural heritage research, enabling advancements in automatic digital documentation and technological inspections of historical churches. The dataset comprises 1278 high-quality images from 33 churches across Brazil, including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with annotations covering six key altar components: altar table, column, crucifix, saint sculpture, tabernacle, and throne. A deep learning approach with hyperparameter tuning was employed to optimize object recognition, demonstrating the potential for multi-object detection in interior environments of historical religious buildings.
Slavery and Sociability in a House on the Direita Street in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais/Brazil, XVIII-XIX Centuries
Parietal drawings discovered in the basement of a house on Direita Street in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil, are interpreted as representing episodes from the life of an enslaved African woman from the Mina Coast (presently Togo, Benin, and Nigeria). These inscriptions likely formed part of a mortuary panel dedicated to her memory, offering a rare glimpse into the experiences of Africans in the region during the 18th and 19th centuries. The study connects the dwelling houses on Direita Street to broader urban sociability, examining the social and economic dynamics of Vila Rica within the Captaincy of Minas. Through extensive documentation—including registry office records, city council documents, parish records, and tribute records—the research reconstructs the woman's life trajectory, shedding light on her agency and interrelationships within a context of subjugation, neighborhood, friendship, and kinship.
Between the Square and the Pentagram: Some Reflections on the Music and Architecture of the Old Ouro Preto
Ouro Preto's cultural heritage emerges from the interplay between its architecture and music, creating a unique legacy that reflects both national history and artistic evolution. The study reveals how the town's architectural transformations, marked by colonial Baroque and Rococo styles, paralleled the development of local musical practices during the 18th century. While the stylistic directions diverged, their complementary relationship fostered a distinct cultural identity preserved today. This interplay highlights the significance of Ouro Preto as a site where architecture and music coalesced to shape national society and history.
ImageOP: The Image Dataset with Religious Buildings in the World Heritage Town of Ouro Preto for Deep Learning Classification
A new image dataset, ImageOP, comprising 1613 images of religious buildings from Ouro Preto, the first Brazilian UNESCO World Heritage Site, achieves high accuracy in deep learning classification. Using EfficientNet B0 and MobileNet V2 architectures, the dataset demonstrated exceptional performance with an accuracy of 94.5%, precision, recall, and F-score of 96.0% in simulations. Real-time mobile device testing confirmed its effectiveness, achieving 88.0% average accuracy across nine monuments. This advancement addresses a critical gap in datasets for Brazilian religious building classification, offering potential for heritage digitization and conservation applications.
Deciphering the footprint of Emil Grosse from Germany to Brazil: a brief review
A previously overlooked chapter of German-Brazilian geoscientific collaboration comes to light through documentation of Emil Grosse's work at the Fábrica mine (later Ferteco) in Ouro Preto, Brazil. This study reveals that Grosse, a German geologist, conducted significant fieldwork on banded iron formations (BIFs) in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero between 1936 and 1949, including during World War II, yet his contributions remained largely unknown until now. The research reconstructs his trajectory from Colombia to Brazil, highlighting his role in validating iron deposits for a German-owned subsidiary while living between Peine (Germany) and Belo Horizonte (Brazil). Key findings include the first recorded evidence of Grosse's work in Brazil, his 1946 publication on the Fábrica mine, and his eventual permanent residency in Germany. The study bridges historical gaps using archival records, offering new insights into transatlantic geoscientific exchanges during a pivotal period.
An Assessment of Fire Hazard in the Historic Town of Ouro Preto based on Four Established Analysis Methodologies
A high fire risk has been identified in the historic center of Ouro Preto, Brazil, with most buildings in the studied block demonstrating insufficient fire safety measures. This assessment was conducted using four established methodologies—Ebrafire, Chichorro, Gretener, and Multi-criteria—which revealed discrepancies in their fire hazard evaluations but collectively underscored the urgent need for mitigation actions to reduce fire risk in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The study, though preliminary, highlights critical vulnerabilities that could threaten the preservation of this culturally significant area.
The Challenge of Accessibility in Historic Towns: The Case of Tiradentes Square in Ouro Preto - Brazil
Efforts to improve accessibility in Tiradentes Square, the heart of Ouro Preto—a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its Portuguese colonial architecture—have fallen short. Despite interventions in 2008 aimed at leveling the square's terrain, the study found that these changes were insufficient to fully address accessibility challenges. The research employed a literature review and case study analysis, examining historical contexts of disability rights from colonization through the mid-18th century alongside Ouro Preto’s urban development. Findings underscore the need for more comprehensive accessibility solutions in historic towns, balancing preservation with inclusive design.
Spectacular Wealth: The Festivals of Colonial South American Mining Towns
Colonial South American mining towns, such as Potosí and Ouro Preto (Vila Rica do Ouro Preto), used festivals to display wealth, power, and cultural identity. These events, often glorifying the crown and church, also served as platforms for local communities—including creoles, Indigenous peoples, and people of African descent—to assert their own agendas. While European festivals were well-documented, those in Spanish America were sparse until Lisa Voigt's work, which analyzed texts from Potosí (1608–1716) and Minas Gerais (1733–1749). Findings reveal that festivals featured allegorical performances, mock battles, and literary works, blending self-promotion with subtle contestation. For instance, Potosí's 1622 celebrations included a float depicting the mountain of Potosí, critiquing Basque dominance, while Minas Gerais' festivals emphasized piety and local identity. The study highlights the multiplicity of agendas in these events, challenging simplistic interpretations of colonial power dynamics.
Exploiting Mining Centers
Mining centers played a pivotal role in shaping the economic and cultural landscapes of Latin America during colonial times. Research highlights that while Mexico's mining regions, such as Zacatecas and Guanajuato, became vital sources of wealth for the Spanish Empire due to their rich deposits of silver, gold, platinum, iron, and copper, Colombia experienced more moderate growth driven by its Antioquia province's gold reserves. Ouro Preto, a once rough mining town in Minas Gerais, Brazil, evolved into a significant hub of Baroque culture and architecture by the late 18th century. Unlike Mexico, Colombia's economic history is characterized by gradual growth rather than boom-bust cycles typical of regions with massive mineral deposits.
From Ouro Preto to Diamantina: remaking Spix and Martius’ journey in 1818
A segment of Spix and Martius’ historic 1817–1820 expedition through Brazil was re-traced in 2017, revealing significant environmental and urban transformations over two centuries. The journey, from Ouro Preto to Diamantina, documented changes in landscapes, settlements, and ecosystems, including the impact of a 2015 disaster on Mariana’s small towns and the preservation of the Serra da Caraça National Park and Sanctuary. The study highlights the continuity of natural and cultural heritage along this route, bridging the Atlantic Rainforest and Cerrado biomes at Itambé Mountain (2052 m). This re-enactment provides a comparative framework for understanding historical ecological shifts in one of Brazil’s most significant UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Revitalisation of Horto Botânico and Vale dos Contos in Ouro Preto - MG, Brazil
Revitalization efforts for Ouro Preto's Horto Botânico and Vale dos Contos, the city's most significant urban green space, have successfully transformed these areas into a public park that enhances tourism, leisure, and environmental engagement. The project restored accessibility and functionality, fostering direct interaction with nature while preserving historical significance. By analyzing the physical, functional, and visual relationships between the park and its surroundings, the study highlights how such interventions can create differentiated options for urban recreation and conservation in UNESCO-listed heritage sites.
Imagens possíveis – Karpfen, Carpeaux, Ouro Preto
Otto Maria Karpfen / Carpeaux, an Austrian-Brazilian essayist and political activist, is often depicted in static contexts that oversimplify his complex life. This study challenges such narratives by presenting new, dynamic images of Karpfen / Carpeaux through his relationship with Ouro Preto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Analyzing three literary essays written before and after the 1964 civil-military coup, the research reveals how Karpfen / Carpeaux's experiences in Brazil—marked by both novelty and déjà vu—reflect his broader life of ruptures and continuities. The study argues that these essays are essential for understanding his multifaceted identity and contribution to Brazilian culture.
Proposta de Roteiro de Campo para o Ensino de Geociências – Trajeto entre os Municípios de Ouro Preto e Mariana/MG – o Patrimônio Geológico Local como Ferramenta Didática Empreendedora
A strategic fieldwork route between Ouro Preto and Mariana, Brazil, is proposed to enhance geosciences education by leveraging the geological heritage of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero. This approach aims to stimulate cognitive development in students through hands-on learning, integrating entrepreneurial education with geoconservation principles. The study combines a literature review on geosciences pedagogy and regional geology with field surveys to identify key outcrops for educational use. By encouraging teachers to design their own fieldwork experiences, the proposal seeks to transform classroom learning into opportunities for local development, citizenship, and sustainable economic growth.
The Aleijadinho at Home and Abroad: “Discovering” Race and Nation in Brazil
Recent research challenges the portrayal of Antônio Francisco Lisboa, known as Aleijadinho, as an emblem of Brazil's racial harmony. By analyzing depictions from four authors—Stefan Zweig, Rodrigo José Ferreira Bretas, Waldo Frank, and Manuel Zapata Olivella—the study reveals how ideologies of race and nation have shaped perceptions of the artist in Brazilian history and Latin American studies. The analysis highlights that most interpretations were influenced by limited regional experience and archival access, with only Bretas offering insights as a native Brazilian. The findings reinterpret Aleijadinho's legacy through contemporary historical research on race in Ouro Preto and neighboring regions, providing new perspectives on Brazil's national identity.
Mining Heritage and Tourism
Mining heritage sites, once abandoned or decommissioned, can be successfully transformed into major tourist attractions, offering economic and cultural benefits to local communities. The study examines global case studies, including the Historic Town of Ouro Preto in Brazil, to analyze how mining museums and heritage attractions are developed, branded, and sustained. It explores conceptual and practical challenges, such as interpreting environmental impacts, balancing tourism with operational mines, and addressing societal dissent. Key insights include the importance of storytelling, geotourism integration, and adaptive planning for open-pit mines. The research highlights both successes—like Sovereign Hill in Australia—and ongoing challenges, providing actionable lessons for heritage conservation and tourism development worldwide.
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