Around 13,000 years ago, the Tagua Lake region in central Chile was home to many large animals that are now extinct. Among them was the gomphothere, a distant relative of the modern elephant with a massive body and long tusks.
Excavations over the past two years have revealed that humans were also present near the lake at that time. Archaeologists found numerous animal bones alongside stone tools, some of which, including gomphothere bones, bore cuts made by humans.
The traces indicate that hunter-gatherer groups butchered gomphotheres here. The bones and tools have been dated to approximately 12,000–13,000 years old, providing further evidence of the very early human presence in southern South America.
Gomphotheres were once widely distributed in the Americas before their extinction. They were related to elephants but varied considerably in appearance, with some species possessing strikingly long tusks. Due to their large size, a single individual could provide a significant amount of meat for the hunter-gatherer communities of that era.
This is not the first time traces of human activity have appeared alongside large animal bones in Tagua Tagua. Previously, archaeologists have found bones of now-extinct native horse and deer species in the area. Some specimens show cuts or burn marks, suggesting they were processed by humans and possibly used as food.
The number of artifacts recovered in the latest excavation is quite large. In addition to animal bones and stone tools, archaeologists also found preserved plant remains in the sediment layers of the ancient lake.
According to the research team, the presence of various types of archaeological remains in one location could help to reconstruct in considerable detail the life of the first communities in this area.
The available evidence also suggests that the lake's shores were visited by humans more than once. Hunting and gathering groups appear to have returned many times, possibly because the abundant water and diverse flora and fauna made Tagua Tagua a favorable location for finding food.
The age of the area is particularly noteworthy because it falls within a period when humans were just beginning to have a more widespread presence in the far south of South America.
One of the oldest confirmed archaeological sites in South America is Monte Verde, also located in Chile and dating back approximately 14,500 years. Other notable sites include Huaca Prieta in Peru and Arroyo Seco in Argentina, both containing evidence of human habitation from around 14,000 years ago.
The remains at Tagua Tagua are slightly younger but show how early South American inhabitants adapted to their environment and exploited giant animals.
Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/loai-thu-khong-lo-nay-o-chile-da-bi-con-nguoi-san-tu-13000-nam-truoc-post2149119200.html
