Revisiting the evidence of the Arenal 1 site: Chronologies and human interactions in central southern Chile

Abstract

The Arenal 1 site in central southern Chile is renowned for its chicken DNA evidence suggesting pre-Columbian contacts with Polynesia. Debates around the chronology of the site and the lack of additional evidence supporting contact, gave origin to a new archaeological excavation focusing on refining the site’s chronology and recovering further archaeological materials. The results appear to reconfirm a pre-Columbian date for this site; however, our findings did not produce any evidence of contact with Polynesia. Instead, clear evidence of South American interregional interaction was detected with the territory of Neuquén, Argentina.