Jimena Ruz
Universidad de Chile, Departamento de Antropología, Graduate Student
El estudio intensivo del sitio Copaca 1, al sur de Tocopilla, proporciona antecedentes que permiten profundizar el conocimiento sobre el período Arcaico en la costa arreica de Antofagasta, para una sociedad que vivió de una eficiente... more
El estudio intensivo del sitio Copaca 1, al sur de Tocopilla, proporciona antecedentes que permiten profundizar el conocimiento sobre el período Arcaico en la costa arreica de Antofagasta, para una sociedad que vivió de una eficiente adaptación costera, sin recursos complementarios extralocales. Estos nuevos hallazgos enriquecen la secuencia cronológica del Holoceno Medio, sus sistemas de asentamientos, prácticas mortuorias, modos de vida y probables evidencias de navegación. Palabras claves: costa arreica, período Arcaico, asentamientos, cronología, funebria. The intensive archaeological and biological study of a singular site (Copaca 1) in the arheic coast of Antofagasta, Chile, brings new data that contributes to a deeper understanding of the Middle Archaic Period, its settlement patterns, its funerary practices, and its ways of life. It also provides probable evidence of early navigation.
Research Interests:
The first canoe occupations, 6000 yr bP in the Strait of Magellan and Otway sea, count with important information on the hunting of marine mammals and their importance in the canoe way of life (Legoupil 1997, San Román 2010, San Román... more
The first canoe occupations, 6000 yr bP in the Strait of Magellan and Otway sea, count with important information on the hunting of marine mammals and their importance in the canoe way of life (Legoupil 1997, San Román 2010, San Román 2011). Similarly, but to a lesser extent, consumption and use of birds (Lefèvre 1997). Nevertheless, so far nothing is known about the exploitation and consumption of fish in this particular area and period. In order to meet this lifestyle aspect and exploitation of resources from more remote coast environments and marine depths, the results of an ictioarchaeological study of ancient archaeological remains from Punta Santa Ana 1 site, recovered by Omar Ortiz-Troncoso (1975, 1979) and attributed to cultural tradition Englefield, are presented. Also, to compare occupations in the same period, assuming the mobility of these groups and their use of various microenvironments of inland seas, evidence of fish found in a test pit at Pizzulic 2 site, located on the Englefield Island, is considered.
Results show a clear focus on Salilota australis (brótula) fishing, species that lives in seabed environments in subtidal areas but prefers greater depths. PSA-1 shows a more diversifed pattern of exploitation that Pizzulic-2. The presence of Rajiform elements (rays) in both sites, especially in Punta Santa Ana 1, is highlighted. These remains have not appeared in contemporary or later contexts.
KEY WORDS: Strait of Magellan, Otway Sea, fishing modalities, Englefield cultural tradition, Salilota australis, Rajiform.
Results show a clear focus on Salilota australis (brótula) fishing, species that lives in seabed environments in subtidal areas but prefers greater depths. PSA-1 shows a more diversifed pattern of exploitation that Pizzulic-2. The presence of Rajiform elements (rays) in both sites, especially in Punta Santa Ana 1, is highlighted. These remains have not appeared in contemporary or later contexts.
KEY WORDS: Strait of Magellan, Otway Sea, fishing modalities, Englefield cultural tradition, Salilota australis, Rajiform.
Research Interests:
El estudio intensivo del sitio Copaca 1, al sur de Tocopilla, proporciona antecedentes que permiten profundizar el conocimiento sobre el período Arcaico en la costa arreica de Antofagasta, para una sociedad que vivió de una eficiente... more
El estudio intensivo del sitio Copaca 1, al sur de Tocopilla, proporciona antecedentes que permiten profundizar el conocimiento sobre el período Arcaico en la costa arreica de Antofagasta, para una sociedad que vivió de una eficiente adaptación costera, sin recursos complementarios extralocales. Estos nuevos hallazgos enriquecen la secuencia cronológica del Holoceno Medio, sus sistemas de asentamientos, prácticas mortuorias, modos de vida y probables evidencias de navegación. Palabras claves: costa arreica, período Arcaico, asentamientos, cronología, funebria. The intensive archaeological and biological study of a singular site (Copaca 1) in the arheic coast of Antofagasta, Chile, brings new data that contributes to a deeper understanding of the Middle Archaic Period, its settlement patterns, its funerary practices, and its ways of life. It also provides probable evidence of early navigation.
The article presents the results of a study conducted on an assemblage of archeofaunal remains from the Copaca 1 archeological site, located on the arid coast of Northern Chile. The site corresponds to an extensive shell midden that was... more
The article presents the results of a study conducted on an assemblage of archeofaunal remains from the
Copaca 1 archeological site, located on the arid coast of Northern Chile. The site corresponds to an
extensive shell midden that was used generally as an occupational site and specifically as a funerary one
by specialized marine hunteregatherers exclusively during the Archaic period.
The analysis of the faunal remains enabled a general description of the use of local fauna throughout
the site's cultural sequence, which range from 7866 to 5040 cal. BP. According to the results obtained,
marine and terrestrial fauna, including marine and terrestrial mammals, sea birds, pelagic and oceanic
fish, mollusks, crustaceans and equinoderms, were used as a source of both food and technological
implements during the Middle Holocene. This implies that the human groups that inhabited Copaca 1
accessed most of the ecoanthropic spheres of the Southern Cone of the Southwestern Pacific coast from
early times onward, an adaptation dated since 12,000 BP in the south-western coast from southern Peru
and northern Chile.
Copaca 1 archeological site, located on the arid coast of Northern Chile. The site corresponds to an
extensive shell midden that was used generally as an occupational site and specifically as a funerary one
by specialized marine hunteregatherers exclusively during the Archaic period.
The analysis of the faunal remains enabled a general description of the use of local fauna throughout
the site's cultural sequence, which range from 7866 to 5040 cal. BP. According to the results obtained,
marine and terrestrial fauna, including marine and terrestrial mammals, sea birds, pelagic and oceanic
fish, mollusks, crustaceans and equinoderms, were used as a source of both food and technological
implements during the Middle Holocene. This implies that the human groups that inhabited Copaca 1
accessed most of the ecoanthropic spheres of the Southern Cone of the Southwestern Pacific coast from
early times onward, an adaptation dated since 12,000 BP in the south-western coast from southern Peru
and northern Chile.