The Volcanic Desert, the Low Mountain Ranges and the Process of Human Expansion to Ultima Esperanza

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Early Human Dynamics in Arid and Mountain Environments of the Americas" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Human dispersal in South Patagonia at the end of the Pleistocene proceeded at different rhythms, according to the location of barriers and distances between suitable places. Peri-Andean areas where difficult to explore, given the complicated topography and harsh winters. The only area with Late Pleistocene occupations relatively near the Pacific Ocean is Ultima Esperanza, Chile. After glacier retreat from Cerro Benitez, a treeless landscape with southern beech tree patches and large grazing animals characterized the region. The arrival of hunter-gatherers occurred c. 12.7 ka., producing a strong but short archaeological signal recorded at Cueva del Medio and other sites. It was suggested that human dispersal into Ultima Esperanza using long-distance logistical mobility started at the Pali Aike Lava Field in the eastern steppe, the southern Late Pleistocene staging area recorded in America. Low scale barriers existed between both regions, but geomorphological evidence points to the Llanuras de Diana as an entry corridor. The process of dispersal through a landscape dotted with bogs is discussed.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• Early Human Dynamics in Arid and Mountain Environments of the Americas

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 51162