Examining biological variation among the marine hunter-gatherers of the Chonos Archipelago, Western Patagonian Channels, Chile

Summary

Our understanding of the evolutionary processes and the prehistory of South America have been enhanced by recent archaeological and biological studies on this continent. Of particular interest has been the focus on marine environments along the Pacific Coast and their importance to biocultural developments among human groups. In this study, we focus on the Chonos Archipelago (43°50’-46°50’S) in the Western Patagonian channels of Chile, which is comprised of a series of more than 150 islands forming a dense network of channels and fjords and covering an area of ˜54,000 km2. Recent archaeological excavations in this area have yielded a new chronology of human occupation starting at 6260 cal years BP. We examine human skeletal remains recovered from excavations and surface collections in this area that date from ~2430 cal yr BP to the historic period. The Chonos assemblage is unique as it is the only systematically dated collection from this region. Using 3D geometric morphometric assessments of crania, we examine biological variation among the Chonos skeletons and coastal populations from other regions of Chile. Our results provide new data for elucidating the population history of prehistoric Pacific coastal inhabitants and the peopling of southern South America.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)

Keywords

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