Late Pleistocene human occupations in the southern puna, Chile (12,4–10,7 ka cal. BP): Primary results from the Salar de Infieles (25°S, 3529 m. a.s.l.)

• Published in: Quaternary science reviews 2023-08, Vol.313, p.108189, Article 108189
• Main Authors: Mendoza, Patricio López, Carrasco, Carlos, Loyola, Rodrigo, Méndez, Víctor, Blanco, Elvira Latorre, Díaz-Jarufe, Pablo, Flores-Aqueveque, Valentina, Varas, Daniel, Santana-Sagredo, Francisca, Orrego, Vanessa, Soto, Angélica, Maldonado, Antonio, Maturana-Fernández, Anahí
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Andes highlands; CAPE II; Late pleistocene; Southern puna
• ISSN: 0277-3791
• DOI: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2023.108189

This article presents the results of excavations at the Infieles-1 site, located at 3529 m. a.s.l. in the Salar de Infieles (25°S), highlands of the Chile's southern Puna ecoregion. An initial human occupation was discovered next to an ignimbrite rock-shelter at a depth of 70–80 cm on top of a volcanic ash deposit, dated between 10,798 and 12,440 cal yr BP. The archaeological record consists of lithic wasted-flakes and knapping debris, an ultra-marginal andesite side-scraper, vicuña bone fragments and traces of red mineral pigment. As far as now, this event is the first human occupation recorded in the southern Puna. It is a camp associated with more favourable environmental conditions during the late Central Andean Pluvial Event II (CAPE II). •In the Salar de Infieles (Chile's southern Puna ecoregion, 25°S, 3529 m. a.s.l.) an initial human occupation was dated between 10,798 and 12,440 cal yr BP.•Archaeological record consists of lithic wasted-flakes, an ultra-marginal andesite side-scraper, vicuña bone fragments and traces of red mineral pigment.•Infieles-1 is a camp associated with more favourable environmental conditions during the late Central Andean Pluvial Event II (CAPE II).