Peru - Quebrada de los Burros

The archaic fishermen and gatherers campsite at Quebrada de los Burros (Tacna, Peru) has been occupied between 9800 and 6000 BP. The occupations tooks place during a calm and wet climatic phase ; the consequent formation in the valley of fresh water on stagnant ponds created highly favourable circumstances for human settlements. Broad horizontal excavations revealed several living-floors features (hearths, postholes, specialized activities areas), abundant lithic equipment and important accumulations of food waste (fish, shells, crabs, urchins, marine mammals and a few terrestrial faunal remains). These remains demonstrate that the inhabitants relied mostly on ocean resources complemented by terrestrial hunting. Lithic tools and bones instruments indicate diversified and sophisticated fishing and foraging techniques.