Abstract

SIERRALTA NAVARRO, Simón. Función y selección de materias primas en la transición Pleistoceno-Holoceno: Punta Negra e Imilac, región de Antofagasta, Chile. Intersecciones antropol. [online]. 2019, vol.20, n.1, pp.11-23. ISSN 1850-373X.

During the Pleistocene-Holocene transition the Atacama desert was inhabited by hunter-gatherer societies that developed complex occupation dynamics. In the Punta Negra and Imilac basins (24° 30’ S 68° 50’ W) over 40 sites with Pleistocene-Holocene radiocarbon dates have been found, as well as a lithic landscape characterized by a wide range of medium to high quality raw materials. Under the light of evidence of a well-structured spatial occupation logic, and systematic long distance transport of lithic raw materials, the current paper evaluates the relationship between function and rock selection for lithic toolsets through microscopic functional analysis. It is proposed that raw materials were selected for certain functional morphologies and subsequently used for working different materials based on situational needs. Thus, an early well-developed knowledge of available resources can be demonstrated for a territory that for years was considered on the margins of the Pleistocene occupation.

Keywords : South American peopling; Use wear analysis; Lithic raw materials; Atacama desert.

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