São Paulo – The Brazilian historian and archaeologist Fernanda de Camargo-Moro is a specialist in telling stories and taking readers on trips through time, revealing the secrets and the past of places and peoples. The researcher, who has already lived India, Yemen, Palestine, Israel, the Himalayas, the Holy Land, Egypt and Italy, has studied the commercial routes, habits, cultures, legends, religions and cuisine of Arabia and various regions of the Mediterranean, the Balkans, the Middle East, North Africa and Asia for more than 30 years now.
As the years went by, she specialized in the routes of the East and published seven books on the subject. In 2007 she released As Caravanas da Lua (The Caravans of the Moon). In order to follow the path of frankincense, or incense, she travelled 1,750 kilometres along the Incense Route, by foot, bus, jeep and even on the back of a dromedary. "I visited the main points of the route besides Sana, the capital of Yemen, including Marib, the region of the Sabah Kingdom, the Indian Ocean and Petra,” said to ANBA by e-mail Fernanda de Camargo-Moro, a 75-year-old "youngster".
The resins of South Arabia (Yemen’s old name) are the different types of frankincense, which are of the highest quality there, the best of the world. The myrrh that they sell there is magnificent. They both have fantastic scents. The region also has perfumes of animal origin, such as the ambergris that I use a lot of, along with roses, in order to create my Bukhur (solid perfume),” she explained.
According to the researcher, the quest for spirituality determined the direction of the routes towards Mecca and Jerusalem, "not to mention the night trip that Mohammed made between the two cities. The aromas are part of an obligatory tradition," she asserted.
Mar das Pérolas (Sea of Pearls), her new book, is dedicated to the United Arab Emirates. Located in the Persian Gulf, the region has a rich geological history and is constantly changing. Enriched by petroleum, the set of small states that comprise the territory now projects a modern image of great financial influence on the Western world and bold architecture. “This cosmopolitan society, with an international lifestyle, is however deeply rooted in the pre-Islamic and Islamic traditions of Arabia,” says the author.
“The Arab Emirates have fascinated me for a long time, and ever since they began to evolve as modern states, I thought that I had to reveal its beautiful roots as well. I have been there on several occasions, in various places and in the most different situations, besides having studied, researched and established friendly links with the population,” she explains.
"Presently, the main features of the United Arab Emirates are high-quality education, culture, environmental protection and strong commercial development, as well as very advanced technologies,” she added.
In April 2007, the researcher set out to return to the sea of pearls, get to know the places that had escaped her in her previous trips and gain better understanding of the changes that occurred in the environment. Armed with historical studies, memories of other trips, a good guide to Dubai and the instinctive curiosity of a researcher, the author examined the cultures of the Gulf, their tradition, history and myths.
Upon returning from the trip, the author organized her memories of the sea of pearls, a mixture of archaeological, sociological and anthropological investigation. “The desert changes and generates new charms for those who go there," she says.
Fernanda’s next trip has not been scheduled yet, “but it will always be on the opposite path of the Sun’s, i.e., towards the East,” she ensured.
History
Fernanda de Camargo-Moro was born in the city of Rio de Janeiro in October 1933. An archaeologist and historian, she holds a doctorate in Archaeology and a post-doctorate in Environmental Archaeology, specializing in the routes of the East. She was the Titular Professor of Archaeology of the old School of Museology of the National History Museum and the president of the Foundation of Museums of the State, and of the Heritage Protection Council of Rio de Janeiro.
A consultant for the United Nations, Unesco and Cepal for many years now, she was also the president of the International Committee of Archaeology and History of the International Council of Museums. Presently, she is the scientific director of the International Network for Archaeology & Environment, scientific advisor to the Himalayas Project and general director of the Routes Project, under which she also carries out in-depth research on the route of the Caravans and its connections to the Silk Route, in an attempt to follow the path of religions.
In addition to various essays and books on her scientific research, she has also published several other books through the Record publishing house.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
