Abstract ID: 3.8113 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

This study examines the connections between highland and lowland regions in the south-central Andes during the Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene through the analysis of obsidian artifacts from Pampa Lechuza, located in the south-central coastal desert of Peru. Geochemical analysis using portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) shows that over 99% of the obsidian originated from the Quispisisa source located approximately 250 km away in the Ayacucho highlands. Technological analysis indicates that the obsidian artifacts primarily reflect advanced reduction stages, suggesting that procurement likely occurred via reciprocal exchange between groups occupying different territories, either through boundary or down-the-line modes. The lithic assemblage from Pampa Lechuza exhibits evidence of Fishtail and Paiján projectile point technology, as well as the manufacture of blades, bladelets, and microblades. This suggests a complex chaîne opératoire that included both local coastal raw materials, such as chalcedony and quartz crystal, and non-local highland raw materials, such as obsidian. These findings suggest that Pampa Lechuza functioned as a node within a vertically organized territory, facilitating connections between highland and coastal ecozones, and possibly linking human groups from these regions. The site’s oasis location and the exclusive presence of maritime fauna in excavated Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene levels underscore its importance as a resting point within regional mobility networks that extend westward to the shores south of the Paracas Peninsula. This study examines early human adaptations in the Andes, focusing on mobility strategies and resource acquisition systems. This highlights the significance of highland-lowland connections in facilitating technological innovation, resource distribution, and social interactions among various ecological zones. This study compares the procurement strategies and technological practices at Pampa Lechuza with those at other sites in the Andes, thereby enhancing our understanding of human interactions with diverse landscapes and the adaptive challenges presented by vertical ecological gradients.