Abstract ID: 3.11739 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Vertical movements along the altitude gradience in the hunting-foraging context on the Tibetan Plateau remains an open inquiry. Traditional models featuring cases in the eastern fringe of the Tibetan Plateau depict occasional forays into high-altitude environments. This study provides new insights into high-elevation adaptations in the early Holocene by examining the occupational strategies at Xiada Co (4,600 m asl) in western Tibet, a newly excavated likely hunting/foraging site dating to 8700-5700 BP. Spatial analysis using kernel density estimation and Getis-Ord Gi* analysis of lithic distributions reveals two well-organized dwellings with distinct patterns regarding internal spatial partitioning and divisions between interior and exterior areas, highlighting the intentional and repeated use of the same place. The evidence presented here from Xiada Co suggests a mode of occupation that is more integrated into the landscape than previously assumed, which invites a reconsideration of how early Holocene hunter-gatherers engaged with the Tibetan Plateau environment and enables insights into regional variations among hunt-foragers in their adaptation in challenging conditions