Stable Isotope Evidence of Dietary Trends among Prehistoric Populations from the Semiarid Region, Chile

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2021: General Sessions" session, at the 86th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The semiarid region of Northern Chile (29°–32° S) is a transitional ecological area, located between the extreme hyperarid conditions of the Atacama Desert and the Mediterranean ones of Central Chile, with a long history of human occupation (Archaic Period–Late Period). This study evaluates the stable isotope signatures, δ 13Cap, δ 13Ccol, and δ15N, of individuals from the coast and inland for the entire temporal sequence. Among coastal groups, marine resources are central throughout the prehistory of the region but δ15N decreases over time. In contrast, δ13C increases over time. In the inland, δ15N levels remain stable, while δ13C increases. Among coastal groups there is a higher degree of diversity in δ15N and δ13Ccol during the Middle Period, and in δ13Cap during the Late Period. Among inland groups variability in δ13C is highest during the Early Ceramic period, whereas δ15N is most variable during the Late Intermediate period. Overall, the results indicate a late introduction of C4 plants both in the inland and along the coast, and a dietary variation that although limited, likely emerged from differences in preferences, access, mobility, and the changing meaning of foods.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 86th Annual Meeting, Online (2021)   •
• SAA 2021: General Sessions

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 32556