Fuel Use and Management at the Specialized Fishing Site of Bayovar-01 in Northern Coastal Peru (5th–8th Centuries AD), Contributions of Charcoal Analysis

Summary

The Sechura desert located on the extreme northern coast of Peru is one of the most arid places on the planet. Nonetheless, human settlements have been recorded from 5000 BC up to the 15th century. Recent archaeological excavations have been carried out at the site of Bayovar-01 (occupied from the 5th to 8th centuries AD). The new data provide insight into the activities and adaptations of the desert’s ancient inhabitants. The presence of two small structures, a large activity area containing a significant amount of fish remains, and traces of hearths, indicate that Bayovar-01 was an opportunistic settlement, benefitting from favorable environmental conditions: the presence of an ancient lagoon; and served as a specialized site for fishing and the preparation of fish.

The analysis of charcoal remains from three different features corresponding to large hearth remains sheds light on practices of firewood gathering and usage. Taxonomic and morphological analyses reveal strong preferences for certain taxa, possible gathering strategies combining dead wood collection and tree felling, the usage of several different tree parts, and consistent combustion conditions across the three features. Despite selection biases, taxa composition may offer yet another indication of the existence different environmental conditions in the desert.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

Keywords

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 21238