Archaeological excavations at the ancient Lake Tagua Tagua basin in central Chile have revealed striking details about the lives of the continent's earliest inhabitants. Researchers identified man-made butchery marks on the bones of gomphotheres, an extinct relative of modern elephants. Dating back approximately 13,000 years, these findings provide definitive evidence that the first Americans hunted and butchered these megafauna in the region [1].
A Hunting Camp by the Lakeshore
Studies conducted by the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES-CERCA) indicate that the lakeshore served as a strategic stop for hunter-gatherer groups during the ancient period. The excavations yielded not only the bones of giant mammals but also stone tools and lithic flakes used for butchering these animals. Researchers believe that the first humans in the area visited this lakeshore regularly, utilizing it as a seasonal hunting and processing camp [2].
The findings in the region show similarities to other significant settlements like Monte Verde, known as the oldest archaeological site in South America, dating back 14,500 years. This new evidence from Tagua Tagua offers further insights suggesting that humans spread to the southern reaches of the continent faster than previously thought and skillfully utilized local resources [3].
Megafauna and Human Interaction
In addition to gomphothere bones, remains of extinct horse and deer species were also discovered at the site. The presence of burn marks on some of these bones suggests that ancient humans did not just hunt these animals but also consumed the meat after cooking it. Archaeologists state that this well-preserved assemblage provides a record unparalleled in South America to date. The research team aims to clarify exactly when humans arrived in the region and how climatic changes influenced these hunting practices by conducting more detailed analyses of sediment samples and bone remains in the coming period.
Sources and further reading
- [1] Rare evidence of gomphothere processing uncovered at 13,000-year-old site in Chile | Archaeology News Online Magazine
- [2] Humans hunted extinct elephant 12,000 years ago, study says | Miami Herald
- [3] 12,500-Year-Old Settlement Discovered in Chile | Sci.News
Image & News Source: Live Science - Archaeology / livescience.com