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Late pleistocene/early holocene environments and climates, fauna, and human occupation in the argentine altiplano
Author(s) -
Fernández Jorge,
Markgraf Vera,
Panarello Héctor O.,
Albero Miguel,
Angiolini Fernando E.,
Valencio Susana,
Arriaga Mirta
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
geoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1520-6548
pISSN - 0883-6353
DOI - 10.1002/gea.3340060303
Subject(s) - chronology , holocene , fauna , pleistocene , arid , radiocarbon dating , archaeology , marl , geography , quaternary , physical geography , megafauna , geology , ecology , paleontology , biology , structural basin
The Barro Negro site (23°S lat., 65°37′W long.) in the Altiplano (Puna) of northwestern Argentina contains a well stratified sequence of remains of Hippidion , the American extinct horse, camelids, and archaeological materials, which is the focus of this study. In addition to establishing a reliable chronology, paleoenvironmental information was obtained based on analyses of pollen and stable isotopes (oxygen and carbon) from bone and marl. The data indicate that Hippidion was present at the site between 12,000 and 10,000 yr B. P., at a time when Altoandean grasslands had expanded to lower elevations. By 10,000 yr B.P., when modern semi‐arid sub‐puna scrub had replaced the Altoandean grasslands, only camelids ( Lama or Vicugna ) were present, simultaneous with the first evidence of local human occupation. This suggests that a climatic shift from cool and moist (winter rain regime) to warm and dry (summer rain regime) conditions took place simultaneously with the disappearance of the American horse and the appearance of camelids and man.