El manejo territorial de los camélidos en la circumpuna de Atacama desde el Arcaico al Formativo (10.000-2400 aP): Una aproximación isotópica y taxonómica

En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de los análisis de isótopos estables (δ13Ccol, δ15Ncol, δ13Capa y δ18Oapa) realizados en huesos de camélidos de sitios de Puripica, Tulán y Salar de Punta Negra (Región de Antofagasta, Chile), dentro de una secuencia que abarca desde el Arcaico temprano hasta el Formativo temprano. Estos datos se cotejaron con datos osteométricos y genéticos de camélidos silvestres y domésticos con el objetivo de comprender el uso de los espacios de caza y pastoreo. Los resultados correspondientes a las muestras de los periodos Arcaico temprano y medio (10.000-5300 aP) obedecen a las características ambientales registradas durante dicho lapso temporal en el área. Para el Arcaico tardío (5300-4000 aP) y el Formativo temprano (3100-2400 aP) se observa una distribución de valores isotópicos relativamente similar. Sin embargo, debido a la alta variabilidad de tamaños dentro de los camélidos domésticos, no es posible definir el uso de ciertas áreas de pastura sobre otras. Al mismo tiempo, los valores isotópicos de carbono y nitrógeno de la fase Tarajne (3700-3200 aP) se muestran poco variables, patrón que se explica por el uso de áreas acotadas para la caza de animales silvestres y/o el pastoreo de animales domésticos.We present the results of the stable isotope analyses (δ13Ccol, δ15Ncol, δ13Capa, and δ18Oapa) carried out on the camelid bone remains from sites at Puripica, Tulán, and Salar de Punta Negra (Antofagasta Region, Chile), within a sequence that spans from the Early Archaic to the Early Formative. This information is discussed together with osteometric and genetic data from wild and domesticated camelids to understand the use of different hunting and herding areas. The results show changes in the isotopic values dated to the Early and Middle Archaic (10,000–5300 years BP), associated with the environmental transformations registered within the study area. For the Late Archaic (5300–4000 years BP) and the Early Formative (3100–2400 years BP) the isotopic values show a similar distribution. Nevertheless, it is impossible to establish the use of specific herding areas due to the high size variability identified within the large size camelid group, which comprises llamas and guanacos. At the same time, the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope compositions measured on the materials dated to the Tarajne phase (3700–3200 years BP) show little variability, a pattern that can be explained due to the use of delimited areas for wild camelid hunting and domestic camelid herding.Contexto arqueológico - Diferencias y similitudes en los valores de δ13C, δ15N y δ18O en el Desierto de Atacama Materiales y metodología de análisis - Análisis osteométrico - Análisis isotópico Resultados - Determinación taxonómica - Valores de δ13C, δ15N y δ18O - Isótopos e identificación taxonómica Discusión y conclusione

Hunting, Herding, and Caravanning: Osteometric Identifications of Camelid Morphotypes at Khonkho Wankane, Bolivia

Khonkho Wankane is a ceremonial center located in the southern Lake Titicaca Basin, Bolivia. During the Late Formative period (AD 1-500), its residents practiced agropastoral lifeways and participated in the rise of the state at Tiwanaku. Like at many Andean sites, bones from the family Camelidae are the most abundant large mammal in domestic contexts. Identifying camelid morphotypes represented by these bones carries far-reaching implications for understanding past hunting, herding, and caravanning practices, and their roles in larger social and economic webs. Identifications were based on a locally focused reference collection, including llamas (Lama glama) from the immediate vicinity of the site, as well as Andean guanacos (Lama guanicoe), a much smaller morphotype than the Patagonian guanacos used in many osteometric studies. Multivariate statistical analyses and incisor morphology identified all four camelid. Different analyses suggest that the crux of osteometry lies in the reference collection, not the statistical test. An additional, very large morphotype likely corresponds to a castrated llama, the preferred cargo animal among modern drovers. The presence of these animals is interpreted as evidence that groups hunted vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) and guanaco, which are not currently present around the site, herded llamas and alpacas (Vicugna pacos), and perhaps organized caravans with castrated llamas.Fil: Gasco, Alejandra Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo; ArgentinaFil: Marsh, Erik Johnson. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo; Argentin

Life History and Origin of the Camelids Provisioning a Mass Killing Sacrifice During the Chimú Period: Insight from Stable Isotopes

International audienceThe site of Huanchaquito-Las Llamas, situated in the Moche Valley, Peru, dated to the Late Intermediate Period (AD 1100-1470), represents a single event mass killing of children and domestic camelids of the Chimu society. Reconstruction of the life histories of 82 camelid individuals based on stable isotope analysis of bone collagen indicates that they originated from the lowlands. Isotopic inter-individual variability indicates diversity in dietary sources, consisting of wild plants and cultigens, grown in water-limited and non-water-limited conditions, as well as a large proportion of C4 plants, suggesting that the animals originated from various herds that were differently managed. In contrast, uniformity in terms of restricted coat colour and young age could suggest that the animals derived from specialised herds. It is possible that the requirement in a short period of time for a massive number of animals meeting certain criteria exceeded the capacity of these herds. This study presents the largest isotopic dataset measured at a single pre-Hispanic site so far and the first to record herding practices for the Chimú society. Comparison with previous isotopic datasets shows differences between ritual and non-ritual groups, as well as diversity in pastoralism practises through time in the Central Andes

The Role of the Submerged Prehistoric Landscape in Ground-Truthing Models of Human Dispersal During the Last Half Million Years

Human genome analysis and research into fossil anthropogenic nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA are providing many new insights into hominin diffusion and migration over the past half million years. The beginning and end data on migration routes frequently imply that the migration involved crossing a present sea-channel or marginal basin, or migrating along the present continental shelf. However, there are very few attempts to correlate the models based on DNA with in situ archaeological and palaeoenvironmental data from the continental shelf or shelf marginal seas. Yet a significant number of sites are available for such correlation. Over 3000 submerged prehistoric archaeological sites on the continental shelf are known worldwide, varying in depth from the nearshore to about −100 m and ranging in age from 5000 years to >0.5 million years. Sites have been found off the coast of every continent except Antarctica. Most of the sites found so far are shallower than 10–20 m, with a few deeper than 40 m, and none are in the tropics. The submerged sites found so far exist in a very wide range of taphonomic conditions and climatic zones, confirming that sites could be found to provide empirical tests of the many different proposed migration routes. The principal exception is that no sites have yet been found between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn and the so-called Southern Route cannot yet be checked until the submerged landscape has been mapped in sufficient detail indicating where sites might survive and be identified. In all other geographic regions it is recommended that DNA models and seabed data are examined for consistency and mutual benefit. Further work is needed to identify submerged sites and landscapes in the tropics