Territorial management of camelids in the Atacama circumpuna from the Archaic to the Formative (10,000-2400 BP): An isotopic and taxonomic approach (2021)

We present the results of the stable isotope analyses (delta C-13(col), delta N-15(col), delta C-13(apa), and delta O-18(apa)) carried out on the camelid bone remains from sites at Puripica, Tulan, and Salar de Punta Negra (Antofagasta Region, Chile), within a sequence that spans from the Early Archaic to the Early Formative. This information is discussed together with osteometric and genetic data from wild and domesticated camelids to understand the use of different hunting and herding areas. The results show changes in the isotopic values dated to the Early and Middle Archaic (10,000-5300 years BP), associated with the environmental transformations registered within the study area. For the Late Archaic (5300-4000 years BP) and the Early Formative (3100-2400 years BP) the isotopic values show a similar distribution. Nevertheless, it is impossible to establish the use of specific herding areas due to the high size variability identified within the large size camelid group, which comprises llamas and guanacos. At the same time, the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope compositions measured on the materials dated to the Tarajne phase (3700-3200 years BP) show little variability, a pattern that can be explained due to the use of delimited areas for wild camelid hunting and domestic camelid herding.