Mauricio Uribe

LA CERÁMICA PREHISPÁNICA TARDÍA DE TARAPACÁ, SUS VALLES INTERIORES Y COSTA DESÉRTICA, NORTE DE CHILE (CA. 900-1.450 D.C.) : UNA PROPUESTA TIPOLOGICA Y CRONOLÓGICA

In this paper we study the ceramic material from the archaeological villages of the Tarapaca region, located in the high ravines, the low valleys, and the coast to the west and east of Pampa del Tamarugal. Our objective is to do a systematic review of earlier studies by ourselves and by other investigators of domestic pottery in the region, to update knowledge about the culture history and social processes related to the still poorly known Pica Tarapaca cultural complex of northen Chile. We propose that this cultural complex developed during the Late Intermediate Period in at least two phases, initial and classic, that we have named Tarapaca Phase (ca. A.D. 900-1,250) and Camina Phase (ca. A.D. 1,250-1,450), respectively. We propose a local pottery tradition that began toward the end of the Formative Period and then, in the absence of Tiwanaku stylistic influences, incorporated new elements from the southern altiplano. This was the panorama that dominated the region when the Inka arrived. This work is intended to contribute with greater empirical evidence to the discussion about social dynamics and economic interaction between lowlands and highlands of this part of the South Central Andes during the Regional Developments of the Late Intermediate Period.

Isotopic evidence for divergent diets and mobility patterns in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile, during the Late Intermediate Period (AD 900–1450)

The decline of the Tiwanaku state saw the emergence of two new cultures-Pica-Tarapacá and Atacama-during the Late Intermediate Period in northern Chile. Archeological evidence suggests that both groups practised maize agriculture and pastoralism, but that their interaction zones differed significantly. Marine resources are common at Pica-Tarapacá sites, even those far from coast, while Atacama sites in the desert oases and precordilleran area seem to have directed their networks towards the highlands. Here we apply stable carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotope analysis on human bone and enamel to test dietary patterns and residential mobility at two sites, Pica 8 and Quitor 6, representing the Pica-Tarapacá and Atacama cultures, respectively. Our results show that diet at the two sites indeed differed: significant but variable consumption of marine resources and maize is indicated at Pica 8, despite being an inland site, while diet at Quitor 6 was based mainly on terrestrial resources. The use of seabird guano and llama dung as fertilizers and extreme aridity may have contributed to the high nitrogen isotope values observed in Pica 8 humans. The δ(18) O values in Pica 8 individuals are generally lower than for Quitor in spite of its greater distance from the Andes. All three isotopes suggest the presence of at least five nonlocals in the 30 measured at Pica 8. This evidence for human mobility is consistent with the high levels of trade and interaction observed in the archeological record, and begins to quantify the degree of movement of specific individuals.

INVESTIGACIONES EN QUILLAGUA: DIFUSIÓN DEL CONOCIMIENTO ARQUEOLÓGICO Y PROTECCIÓN DEL PATRIMONIO CULTURAL

Se presenta la sintesis de la experiencia obtenida a traves de dos proyectos de investigacion financiados por FONDECYT (1950071 y 1990168). Estos proyectos motivaron la preocupacion de sus integrantes por dar a conocer a la comunidad de Quillagua en que consiste la labor arqueologica y por difundir los resultados obtenidos mas alla de un ambito puramente cientifico. Esta experiencia continua una linea de trabajo que se viene realizando desde hace varios anos en el Loa Superior en la cual se pone enfasis en mantener una relacion fluida entre arqueologos y comunidades. Esta relacion ha permitido que la comunidad denuncie situaciones de saqueo y destruccion de sitios arqueologicos, pudiendose de esta manera dar proteccion efectiva al patrimonio cultural

Paired Radiocarbon Dating on Human Samples and Camelid Fibers and Textiles from Northern Chile: The Case of Pica 8 (Tarapacá)

Pica 8 is a Late Intermediate Period (AD 900–1450) cemetery located in the Atacama Desert. Burials at the site present unexpectedly high variability in δ13C (–8‰ to –16‰) and δ15N (10‰ to 24‰) values in their skeletal tissues, implying highly diverse diets. There are two possible explanations for this variability: the first is diachronic change in diet while the second involves synchronic sociocultural distinctions. To distinguish between them a radiocarbon (14C) dating program (n=23) was initiated. The presumed importance of marine foods adds the complication of a marine reservoir effect. To address this problem, paired 14C dates were obtained on human bone and camelid textiles from nine graves. The results fall into two groups, one showing an average offset of 117±9 14C yr, and the other no statistically significant offsets. We conclude that the contribution of marine foods to bone collagen at Pica 8 was less than previously supposed. Other factors must be invoked to account for the unusually high human δ15N values at the site. Manuring crops with sea-bird guano emerges as a probable explanation. No relationship with chronology is seen implying the presence of considerable diversity in diets and hence lifeways within the Pica 8 community.

Nuevos fechados del sitio Tarapacá-40: recientes análisis y reflexiones sobre un cementerio clave del período Formativo del norte de Chile y Andes Centro Sur (1110 a.C.–660 d.C).

Abstract El principal objetivo de este trabajo es compartir los últimos datos y fechados de radiocarbono obtenidos para el cementerio Tarapacá-40 (norte de Chile). Estos son evaluados y discutidos en relación a recientes estudios de sus restos humanos y del material cultural asociado, en especial de su alfarería, los tejidos y la gran diversidad de ofrendas en algunas tumbas. A partir de una reflexión en torno a estas dataciones y sus implicancias culturales, confrontamos planteamientos anteriores y recientes respecto al período Formativo de Tarapacá. En particular, porque este sitio ha representado una de las expresiones más notables de los cambios económicos y culturales ocurridos tanto en el norte chileno como en los Andes Centro Sur, tradicionalmente asociado al tránsito de un modo de vida basado en la caza y recolección a otro sustentado en la agricultura. This article provides new radiocarbon dates from mortuary contexts at the Tarapacá-40 cemetery site in northern Chile, in the Tarapacá Valley, and assesses them in regard to the associated human remains and cultural material, especially pottery, textiles, and other objects in some of the tombs. We then assess the implications of these new data for the Formative period in the region. Tarapacá-40 is one of the most important sites in northern Chile in particular and the south central Andes in general at this time. The settlement is in a time period that represents the transition from one life style based on hunting and gathering to another supported by agriculture.

Bioarchaeology in Chile: What It Is, Where We Are, and Where We Want to Go

Throughout its history, Chilean bioarchaeology has been shaped by the idiosyncrasies of the country’s political and ideological circumstances. In this chapter, we present and explore socio-historical landmarks that have given rise to the origin and development of bioarchaeological research in Chile. Furthermore, we discuss the controversies concerning the study of human remains and point out the new directions currently being developed within the field of bioarchaeology across the country.

Variabilidad Fenotípica en Maíz (Zea Mays) del Sitio de Caserones- I, Región de Tarapacá

En este articulo se analiza la variabilidad fenotipica del maiz en el sitio Caserones-1, comparando siete caracteres entre ejemplares pertenecientes a dos periodos: Formativo e Intermedio Tardio (cal. 20-1.020 d.C.). Considerando la antigua relacion entre esta especie y diversos grupos humanos en America (ca. 7.500 AP), asi como la tendencia generalizada a la disminucion de la variabilidad genetica como resultado de los procesos de seleccion y domesticacion, es que aqui ponemos a prueba la hipotesis de disminucion de la variabilidad fenotipica desde el Formativo al Periodo IntermedioTardio como consecuencia del manejo antropico. Los resultados aqui mostrados refutan la hipotesis anterior, describiendo un panorama inverso: de acuerdo al Analisis de Componentes Principales, la longitud es el atributo que presenta la transformacion mas intensa entre estos dos periodos, ampliando considerablemente su rango superior e incrementando la variabilidad alcanzada en el Formativo. Estos resultados aportan evidencia sobre las dinamicas de seleccion y manejo antropico por parte de algunas comunidades prehispanicas tarapaquenas, las que aqui son interpretadas como espacios de experimentacion agricola desde el Formativo Tardio.

RELACIONES CERÁMICAS Y SOCIALES ENTRE SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA Y EL LOA SUPERIOR DURANTE EL PERÍODO INTERMEDIO TARDÍO A TRAVÉS DEL ANÁLISIS DE FLUORESCENCIA DE RAYOS X PORTÁTIL

Durante el periodo Intermedio Tardio las comunidades de San Pedro de Atacama y del Loa Superior produjeron tipos ceramicos similares. La ceramica, junto a otros materiales, sugieren una intensificacion de una identidad regional compartida durante este periodo. El analisis de fluorescencia de rayos X con equipo portatil de 251 fragmentos de ceramica (tipos Dupont, Ayquina y variantes Turi) de varios sitios del Intermedio Tardio indico que estos tipos ceramicos forman dos grupos quimicos distintos vinculados a las dos regiones. Poca cantidad de fragmentos con valores quimicos del Loa Superior fueron identificados en la muestra de San Pedro, y ninguno con los valores de San Pedro se encontro en la del Loa Superior. Lo anterior sugiere que en ambas zonas se usaron materias primas propias y locales para coproducir los principales estilos, senalando la existencia de una identidad supra-regional. Estos resultados discuten el modelo de un poder diferencial durante el periodo Tardio para explicar estos patrones.