EXAMINATION OF PALEOFECES, FEATURE FILL, AND AGRICULTURAL FIELDS AT RAMADITAS and LLANOS DE COLOR, CHILE

Ramaditas (G6) is one of a series of six sites located in the Quebrada de Guatacondo in northern Chile. The site is situated along a caravan route between the coastal margins and the highlands. By 900 BC, small agro-pastoral groups were occupying the richer, fertile highlands. Trade increased with coastal groups to obtain marine products. Groups regularly moved between the highland salt puna, through the dry sierra, and on to the coastal oases. Archaeological evidence suggests that Ramaditas most likely represents a small, year-round settlement in the dry sierra. Exchange of goods might have included agricultural products raised by people living along the river deltas, as well as marine resources from groups situated adjacent to large bays on the coast. Pollen, phytolith, and macrofloral analyses were undertaken on human and camelid paleofeces to obtain evidence of both human and camelid diet. Analysis of samples from living compounds at Ramaditas provide information on resource use. Sediments from agricultural fields at Ramaditas and Llanas de Color were examined to address questions concerning local crop production.