Remains of an extinct, elephant-like mammal discovered along the shores of Lake Tagua Tagua in central Chile bear distinct human-made cut marks, offering fresh insight into the lives of some of the continent’s earliest inhabitants. According to a Sept. 24 announcement from the Catalan Institute for Human Palaeoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES-CERCA), archaeological digs conducted over the last two years uncovered a significant concentration of megafauna bones and lithic artifacts at the site.
The findings indicate that Indigenous peoples were hunting and consuming these long-tusked animals, identified as gomphotheres, approximately 13,000 years ago. The dated bones and tools suggest that hunter-gatherer groups repeatedly occupied the ancient lake’s shoreline during a period spanning roughly 12,000 to 13,000 years ago.
This discovery adds to the growing body of evidence regarding early human settlement in southern South America. The oldest confirmed archaeological site on the continent is Monte Verde in Chile, dating back approximately 14,500 years. Other notable early sites include Huaca Prieta in Peru and Arroyo Seco in Argentina, both estimated to be around 14,000 years old.
Previous excavations in the Lake Tagua Tagua basin have also yielded remains of extinct American horses and deer species. Some of these bones exhibit signs of burning and cutting, further confirming that ancient humans utilized these resources for cooking and consumption.
IPHES-CERCA described the well-preserved collection of faunal remains, plant evidence, and stone tools as a unique assemblage with no known parallels currently recorded in South America. Researchers state that this data is crucial for refining timelines of human arrival in the Americas and understanding how early populations exploited megafauna prior to their extinction.
With fieldwork now concluded, the research team will focus on analyzing sediment and biological samples extracted during the excavations. These studies aim to pinpoint exactly when humans first inhabited the basin and to detail the specific methods used for butchering and preparing meat.
It’s wild to think humans were hunting these giant beasts 13,000 years ago. Makes you appreciate how adaptable our ancestors were.
I wonder if genetic studies on the gomphothere bones could reveal anything about their diet or the environment back then?
The parallel to Monte Verde is striking. It really shows how much we still have to learn about prehistoric migration routes in the Andes.
Wait, did they only publish this recently? I recall reading preliminary reports on this site two years ago. Why the delay?
Fascinating how this rewrites the timeline of South American settlement. Truly remarkable archaeological work.