Control and introduction of camelid domestic taxa in semiarid north: osteometric variability in mauro valley, IV Región, Chile

Authors

  • Isabel Cartajena Fasting Departamento de Antropología, Universidad de Chile, Ignacio Carrera Pinto 1045, Ñuñoa
  • Bárbara Rivera Departamento de Antropología, Universidad de Chile, Ignacio Carrera Pinto 1045, Ñuñoa
  • Patricio López Programa de Doctorado en Antropología, Universidad Católica del Norte, IIAM. Gustavo Le Paige 380, San Pedro de Atacama
  • Boris Santander Programa de Doctorado en Cuaternario y Prehistoria, Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Institut Català de Paleoecología Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES), Catalunya, España. Grupo “Quaternário e Pré-História” do Centro de Geociências, uID73 – FCT

Abstract

Osteometric analysis results of the bone assemblages from the sites located in Valle de Mauro (MAU033, MAU085, MAU062, MAU065, MAU083, MAU091, MAU064, MAU092, MAU067 and MAU094), Semiarid North, Chile are presented. The sites cover an occupational sequence from the Late Archaic to the Late Period. The late introduction of domestic taxa (llama) during the Diaguita-Inka period is re-evaluated. Results show the presence of big sized camelids, even bigger in size than modern guanacos used as reference during the Late archaic. For the later period two taxa, llama and guanaco, are represented. Although, high osteometric variability along the sequence difficults a more accurate interpretation, an early control of domestic camelids is suggested.

Keywords:

Southamerican Camelids, Osteometry, Semiarid North, Late Archaic, Late Intermediate, Late Period