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Subsistence Continuity Linked to Consumption of Marine Protein in the Formative Period in the Interfluvic Coast of Northern Chile: Re-Assessing Contacts with Agropastoral Groups from Highlands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 February 2016

Pedro Andrade*
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Universidad de Concepción, Chile
Ricardo Fernandes
Affiliation:
Institute for Ecosystem Research, University of Kiel, Germany Leibniz Laboratory for Radiometric Dating and Isotope Research, University of Kiel, Germany McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Katia Codjambassis
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Universidad de Concepción, Chile
Josefina Urrea
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Universidad de Concepción, Chile
Laura Olguín
Affiliation:
PhD Program, Universidad Católica del Norte, Chile
Sandra Rebolledo
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Universidad de Chile
Francisca Lira
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Universidad de Concepción, Chile
Christian Aravena
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Universidad de Concepción, Chile
Mauricio Berríos
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Universidad de Concepción, Chile
*
2Corresponding author. Email: [email protected].

Abstract

From material culture evidence dating as early as 7500 cal BC, it has been established that populations from the interfluvic coast in northern Chile adapted to a maritime economic livelihood. During the 2nd millennium BC, local populations began to experience major social changes arising mainly from an increase in contacts with agropastoral populations from the highlands of the Andes. New radiocarbon data and stable isotope (δ15Ncol, δ13Ccol, and δ13Cap) analyses of human bone remains from interfluvic coastal individuals were obtained. The data showed that these individuals, at the time of contact with highland populations, maintained a mode of subsistence relying principally on marine protein. This suggests that, although instances of social change may have arisen, the livelihoods linked to the consumption of marine resources would have remained constant, demonstrating a high degree of resistance in changing local lifestyles.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © 2015 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

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References

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