Early Holocene Archaeological Context and Assemblages of Baño Nuevo 1: A Key Site in Central West Patagonia

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.

KEYWORDS:

• Early bioanthropological remains
• caves
• geochronology
• late Pleistocene–early Holocene
• Central West Patagonia

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

This work was funded by ANID FONDECYT 1210042, ANID Regional R20F0002 and BIP 40047179-0 (Regional Government of Aysén).

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.