Paleo-Environments and the Human Occupation of Quebrada Mani, Northern Atacama Desert, Chile

Workman, T. Race; Rech, Jason A.; Gayó, Eugenia M.; Santoro, Calógero M.; Latorre, Claudio; Ugalde, Paula C.

doi:10.1130/abs/2018am-322728

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…The PdT experienced major ecological and hydrological transformations triggered by large positive hydrological anomalies in the adjacent highlands (Gayo et al 2012; Nester et al 2007; Workman 2012). The CAPE event involved two main phases dating back to 17,500–14,200 cal B.P.…”

Section: Fuel Management and Colonization Of The Atacama Desertmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Pleistocene Fuel Management and Human Colonization of the Atacama Desert, Northern Chile

Joly¹,

Santoro²,

Gayó³

et al. 2017

Latin Am. antiq.

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Hunter-gatherers collected and used various woody species depending on the landscape, availability of plant communities, and sociocultural considerations. With extensive paleo-wetlands and groundwater-fed oases, the Atacama Desert was interspersed with riparian woodlands that provided vital resources (fuel, water, and game) at the end of the Pleistocene in areas such as the Pampa del Tamarugal (PdT) basin. We use anthracological analyses to determine the fuel management strategies of hunter-gatherer societies in this hyperarid environment and explore whether the “Principle of Least Effort” applies. First, we present the combustion qualities and characteristics of woody taxa from the Atacama and analyze possible exploitation strategies. Second, we use anthracological analyses from Quebrada Maní 12 (QM12), a late Pleistocene archaeological site (dated from 12,750 to 11,530 cal B.P.) located in the PdT basin, to show the prevalence of two woody species that were either freshly collected or gathered (very likely on purpose) from subfossil wood. Our results suggest that fuel selection strategies were based on prior knowledge of the qualities of these woody taxa and how they burned. Thus we conclude that fuel management was part of a number of social and economic decisions that allowed for effective colonization of this region. Furthermore, we stress the need for caution when using charcoal to exclusively date archaeological sites located in desert environments.

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Section: Fuel Management and Colonization Of The Atacama Desertmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Pleistocene Fuel Management and Human Colonization of the Atacama Desert, Northern Chile

Joly¹,

Santoro²,

Gayó³

et al. 2017

Latin Am. antiq.

Self Cite

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“…This period of human occupation coincides with CAPE II. Paleoenvironmental studies carried out in the vicinity of the site reveal that it was surrounded by a wetland (Workman, 2012) and a perennial river. These water features supported phreatophyte vegetation (Gayo et al, 2012a) and game such as Lama guanicoe (guanacos) and Vicugna vicugna (vicuñas).…”

Section: Site Descriptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1 and 2), remained hyperarid—i.e., no direct rainfall occurred. However, enhanced rainfall at higher elevations (Nester et al, 2007; Gayo et al, 2012a; Workman, 2012) supported wetlands and shallow lakes through run-off and ground-water discharge into the otherwise hyperarid desert (Pfeiffer et al, 2018; Quezada et al, 2018). Interestingly, the Coastal Cordillera was not affected by these CAPE pluvial stages, but displays asynchronous wet periods related to a different moisture source (Ritter et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Processes of Paleoindian site and desert pavement formation in the Atacama Desert, Chile

et al. 2020

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A distinct feature of many of the earliest archaeological sites (13,000-11,200 cal yr BP) at the core of the Atacama Desert is that they lie at or just below the surface, often encased in desert pavements. In this study, we compare these sites and undisturbed desert pavements to understand archaeological site formation and pavement development and recovery. Our results indicate these pavements and their soils are poorly developed regardless of their age. We propose that this is because of sustained lack of rain and extreme physical breakdown of clasts by salt expansion. Thus, the core of the Atacama provides an example of the lower limits of rainfall (<50 mm/yr) needed to form desert pavements. At site Quebrada Maní 12 (QM12), humans destroyed the pavement. After abandonment, human-made depressions were filled with eolian sands, incorporating artifacts in shallow deposits. Small and medium-sized artifacts preferentially migrated upwards, perhaps due to earthquakes and the action of salts. These artifacts, which now form palimpsests at the surface, helped – along with older clasts - to restore surface clast cover. Larger archaeological features remained undisturbed on top of a deeper Byzm horizon. The vesicular A horizons (Av horizons) have not regenerated on the archaeological sites due to extreme scarcity of rainfall during the Holocene.

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Paleo-Environments and the Human Occupation of Quebrada Mani, Northern Atacama Desert, Chile

Cited by 2 publications

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Late Pleistocene Fuel Management and Human Colonization of the Atacama Desert, Northern Chile

Late Pleistocene Fuel Management and Human Colonization of the Atacama Desert, Northern Chile

Processes of Paleoindian site and desert pavement formation in the Atacama Desert, Chile

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