ABSTRACT
The Baño Nuevo 1 site, a cave with paleontological and archaeological deposits located in the eastern steppes of Central West Patagonia, provides a uniquely dry environment that allowed the survival of organic materials that are not common in excavated sites in the region. The remains include paleontological evidence from the late Pleistocene deposits and a series of discontinuous occupational events that spanned the Holocene. However, an assemblage containing the remains of at least 10 human individuals of early Holocene age stands out as a distinctive set of synchronic burials, among the earliest on the continent. This review presents updated information on the studies carried out at the site while discussing them in the frame of other relatable archaeological findings of the early Holocene in the broader region.
Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the following help with figures: Paulina Chávez (Figures 1, 4, 7, 8, and 9), Patricio López (Figure 6), Donald Jackson and Juan Pablo Varela (Figure 9). The Casa de Piedra Rosello specimen was drawn from an image kindly provided by Analía Castro Esnal (Figure 8). We acknowledge Andrés Schwencke and Feddy Boldt for their continuous support. We acknowledge the thoughtful comments of three anonymous reviewers.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Geolocation information
Baño Nuevo 1: 45°17′35,9″ S; 71°31′48,3″ W.
Data availability statement
All specimens in this study are curated in the Museo Regional de Aysén (www.museoregionalaysen.gob.cl/) and are available through prior consultation with the collection curator.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
César Méndez
César Méndez is resident researcher at the Center for Research of Patagonian Ecosystems (CIEP, Coyhaique). His research focuses on human-environmental interactions in semiarid regions of Chile with special interest on the Pleistocene-Holocene transition.
Amalia Nuevo-Delaunay
Amalia Nuevo-Delaunay is resident researcher at the Center for Research of Patagonian Ecosystems (CIEP, Coyhaique). Her research focuses on human-environment interactions in in Patagonia with special interest on culture contact studies.
Omar Reyes
Omar Reyes is associate researcher at the Center for Studies of History and Geography (CEHA, UMAG) and associate researcher at the Center for Research of Patagonian Ecosystems (CIEP, Coyhaique). His main area of research is on hunter-gatherer bioanthropology and the study adaptations to marine environments of Patagonia.
Carolina Belmar
Carolina Belmar is assistant professor at the Anthropology Department of the University of Chile. Her research focuses on human-plant interaction among past hunter-gatherers, horticultural and agricultural groups in the southern Andes.
Francisco Mena
Francisco Mena is a former resident researcher at the Center for Research of Patagonian Ecosystems (CIEP, Coyhaique). He studies the prehistory of human occupations along the gradient of Patagonian Ecosystems.