Social interaction between the coast and the highlands of Chile's arid north (20°S) during the mid-Holocene: The case of Vicugna vicugna (Molina, 1782) and Hippocamelus antisensis (d'Orbigny, 1834)

Abstract

This article discusses the archaeological implications of the discovery of the highland species Hippocamelus antisensis (Cervidae) and Vicugna vicugna (Camelidae) in two coastal contexts in the Atacama Desert (20°S, Chile). H. antisensis is currently distributed throughout the Peruvian Andes, northern Chile, western Bolivia and northwestern Argentina, between 1800 and 5500 m above sea level. V. vicugna is distributed throughout northern Peru and northwestern Argentina, in environments that exceed 3200 m above sea level. The archaeological record of deer antlers on the Atacama coast has previously been documented at the Caleta Huelén-42 site (21°S). In the case of V. vicugna, fibers have been recovered only at the coastal site of Camarones-14 (19°S). A dating of 4180 ± 20 year BP obtained from V. vicugna bone and indirect dating of the antlers suggest an early social exchange between groups from coastal regions and those from the Atacama Desert Mountain range, as well as encourage to the potential record of remains/products of these animals in areas far from their natural habitats.