High-altitude adaptation and late Pleistocene foraging in the Bolivian Andes. (April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Capriles, José M.; Albarracin-Jordan, Juan; Lombardo, Umberto; Osorio, Daniela; Maley, Blaine; Goldstein, Steven T.; Herrera, Katherine A.; Glascock, Michael D.; Domic, Alejandra I.; Veit, Heinz; Santoro, Calogero M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of archaeological science. Volume 6(2016)
• Page Start: 463
• Page End: 474
• Publication Date: 2016-04
• Subjects: Andes -- Highlands -- Hunter-gatherers -- Mobility -- Paleoindian; Archaeology -- Periodicals; Archaeology -- Research -- Periodicals; 930.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.03.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-409X

Abstract

Abstract: The high Andes of South America were among the last environments that Homo sapiens colonized during its Pleistocene dispersion out of Africa. The peopling of this high-elevation environment was constrained by atmospheric hypoxia, cold stress, and resource availability. Here we report archaeological and geoarchaeological analyses from Cueva Bautista, a dry rock shelter, located at 3933 m above sea level in southwestern Bolivia. We focus on a well-preserved occupation surface containing hearths and high-quality stone tools AMS dated to 12, 700–12, 100 cal BP. Geoarchaeological resolution of the site supports its stratigraphic integrity and archaeological analyses indicate that the early human occupation was formed as a temporary camp by mobile foragers relying on a curated technological strategy. Regional paleoenvironmental reconstructions suggest that Cueva Bautista's occupation was synchronous with humid conditions and its abandonment with increased aridity. Our findings suggest that mobile hunter-gatherers explored – albeit not colonized – the high Andes during the late Pleistocene and provides further support that a combination of biological, behavioral, and environmental constraints affected human adaptation to this extreme environment. Highlights: The high Andes were among the last environments to be colonized by humans. We report a 12, 700–12, 100 cal BP occupation in the Andean Altiplano of Bolivia. Mobile foragers occupied the site logistically employing a curated technological strategy. The occupation of the site coincides with a humid phase and its abandonment with regional increased aridity. Evidence suggests human adaptation to the high Andes was gradual.