Preceramic Period Vertebrate Use in the Jequetepeque Valley, Peru

Summary

Faunal remains from the Proyecto Pacasmayo provide the opportunity to examine vertebrate subsistence strategies of inland communities during the transitional Preceramic period. Proyecto Pacasmayo excavations at Middle Preceramic sites in the Jequetepeque Valley in northern Peru reveal evidence for increasing complexity, localization, and aggregation. The Pacasmayo sites are all located within the vegetated lomas areas of two alluvial fans, Quebrada del Batán, and Quebrada Talambo.

Of particular interest is the relative importance of terrestrial versus marine aquatic resources to the diet of inland Preceramic populations. The use of marine aquatic taxa would indicate less localization of resource use, and, likely, greater mobility than is characteristic of the Late Preceramic. The research questions addressed below are:

1) Did inland populations rely on terrestrial resources to a greater extent than did coastal populations?

2) Is there evidence of localization of subsistence resource exploitation, or do vertebrate faunal assemblages suggest intensive use of exotic resources?

3) Do changes in subsistence strategies occur over time in the Proyecto Pacasmayo assemblages?

4) Can zooarchaeological remains from the Proyecto Pacasmayo sites be used to reconstruct local environments during the Preceramic period?

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Pavao-Zuckerman Zooarchaeological Data

Keywords

Temporal Coverage

Radiocarbon Date: 11000 to 4000 (Preceramic)

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Barnet Pavao-Zuckerman

File Information