Decolonizar o Patrimônio:

Casa de Oração e Cemitério Quilombola do Castainho como Patrimônio Cultural de Pernambuco

Abstract

This article proposes a critical reflection on the coloniality of cultural heritage in Brazil, understood as the persistence of colonial structures in the processes of selection, valuation, and preservation of cultural assets. Based on the axes of memory, narratives, and historical justice, cultural heritage is discussed as a field of dispute and a political instrument, highlighting the limitations and possibilities of preservation policies in response to the demands of historically marginalized groups. The case study of the Historical and Archaeological Site of Cruz das Almas, located in the Quilombola Community of Castainho (Garanhuns, Pernambuco), is analyzed as an example of the struggle for heritage and territorial recognition. It is concluded that a decolonial approach is essential to promote new narratives and possible futures, grounded in the horizontality of knowledge, active listening, and shared management of cultural assets.