Paleoenvironments and Cultural Diversity in Late Pleistocene South America

Abstract

After a summary assessment of certain selected early man sites in various parts of America, the environment of the Venezuelan coastal plain is discussed in order to evaluate the stratigraphy and radiometric dating of the Taima-Taima site, near Coro, Venezuela, where mammals, many now extinct, were killed by people making El Jobo points about 13,000 years ago.Potentially important areas in Peru, Chile and Brazil are mentioned. Certain problems in the models and interpretation of South American paleoclimates are pointed out.The presence of at least four different bifacially flaked stone projectile point traditions in widely separated and environmentally diverse parts of America between 11,000 and 13,000 yr ago suggests that the immediate cultural antecedents of these traditions were essentially independent of one another. From this it is argued that several early American flaked-stone point traditions developed indigenously in America from technological bases which were present in the Old World Middle Paleolithic.

Climate change and human settlement around the late‐glacial laguna De Punta Negra, northern Chile: The preliminary results

“…The earliest remains otherwise documented in this area re-late to the Ayampitin (late Paleo-Indian) horizon of northwestern Argentina, but the investigations of Le Paige (1970) and Lanning (1970) tantalized us with the hope of pre-projectile point industries, quarries, and even occupation sites. On a continental scale Bryan (1973) and MacNeish (1976) have long argued for a glacial-age human presence, while I have repeatedly cautioned against too quick an acceptance of pre-projectile point and even pre-Clovis culture (e.g., Lynch 1974, 198313). Nevertheless, wishing to keep an open mind until final conclusions could be reached, I decided to take the constructive step of testing one of the more hopeful cases, the Salar de Punta Negra.…”

The late Pleistocene cultures of South America

“…2). 8,9,11,13,17 As I indicated earlier, these diverse types seem to represent greater time depth and rapid in situ cultural change, probably resulting from rapid colonization after initial entry, as well as highly effective local adaptations.…”

Early Inhabitants of the Amazonian Tropical Rain Forest: A Study of Humans and Environmental Dynamics

“…Either way, the data needed to test these theories is unavailable, but it is slowiy emerging as a resuit of the development of extensive palynological research in the area In archaeological ternis the debate over stabilii and the refugium's theory is relevant because the changing environmental conditions of the past have to be understood in order to explain South America's early human occupat i on. (1982) and Pranoe (1982) 1973;Bryan et. al., 1978;Ochsenius and Gruhn 1979).…”

“…(VV&y 1971;Lynch 1978:473). Recent archaeological research (e.g., Bryan 1973;1978;1986;DiMay e t al., 1992), however,…”