Las Morrenas 1 Rockshelter: Evidence for Cultigens Among Hunter Gatherers of the Late Archaic Period in Central Chile

Abstract

Archaeobotanical studies from Las Morrenas 1 site, located in the Andean basin of the Maipo river in Central Chile, demonstrated the presence of charred remains of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) in a context of hunter gatherers front the end of the Archaic Period, with dates that ranged from 3250 to 2980 cal. years B.P This evidence continued to be found through the occupation sequence observed at the site, which included Early Ceramic Period deposits at the upper levels. Archaeological materials indicated that in both periods the settlement was used for specific activities of seasonal character The regional and local contexts of associations between cultigens and populations at the end of the Archaic Period are discussed