The Economy of Prehistoric Northern Chile: Case Study Caleta Vitor
Date
2016
Authors
Carter, Christopher Paul
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Abstract
Despite being within one of the driest deserts on earth, the
coast of southern Peru and northern Chile has been inhabited by
humans for over 10,000 years. Within a limited range of habitats,
local cultures were characterised by an economy based on limited
terrestrial and abundant marine resources. This thesis intends to
address the question as to how such an economy can be defined.
By examining the economic trajectory of coastal communities, this
project will attempt to establish the base from which the local
economy was originally derived and how it developed through time,
looking particularly at the effects of migration and trade
together with the dynamics of a distinctive environment and the
cycles of El Niño weather patterns.
This research was based on a collection of archaeological
material obtained from a number of sites at Caleta Vitor located
on the coast approximately 30km south of Arica, Chile. This
material was excavated from middens and includes food remains (eg
shell, bone, plant material) as well as cultural material (eg
lithic artefacts, textiles, ceramics, wooden implements). The
analysis of this data was directed toward an understanding of
what constituted the earliest economy, when this occurred and how
the economy changed through time (the material at Caleta Vitor
ranges in age from the Early Archaic (>9000 cal BP) through to
the Colonial Period).
Findings indicate that although the original inhabitants of
Caleta Vitor arrived from the north and already had a
well-developed economy based on marine resources. There was
little evidence of inland/highland contact during the earlier
phases of occupation. Cultural developments accord with those of
the sites immediately to the north and south – around Arica and
the Azapa Valley and south at Camarones and Pisagua. The
termination of the early cultural phase known as the Chinchorro
saw the introduction of ceramics, simple textiles and major
changes to funerary practices during the Formative Period. Later
developments included the introduction of a material culture and
agricultural products from highland groups and local inland
polities during the Late Intermediate. Inka influence was noted
during the Late Period. However, despite significant cultural
shifts, the economy at Caleta Vitor remained focussed on marine
resources. There were relatively few changes to the techniques
and technology that were employed to exploit a range of resources
that did not vary to any great degree.
Over time, an increasing range of products became available to
those living at Caleta Vitor. However, they chose to remain
focussed on the sea and their affinity with it remains.
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Keywords
archaeology, archeology, Chinchorro, mummies, Inca, Tiwanaku, Atacama Desert, fish, fishing, shellfish, Arica, Chile, Caleta Vitor, marine economy, midden
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