Radiocarbon dates from the TT-3 site.

We present the results of the excavations and analyses of the diverse and exceptional archaeological assemblage of Taguatagua 3, a new late Pleistocene site located in the ancient Tagua Tagua lake in Central Chile (34°S). The anthropogenic context is constrained in a coherently dated stratigraphic deposit which adds new information about the mobility, subsistence strategies, and settlement of the early hunter-gatherers of southern South America. The age model constructed, as well as radiocarbon dates obtained directly from a combustion structure, indicate that the human occupation occurred over a brief time span around 12,440–12,550 cal yr BP. Considering taphonomic, geoarchaeological, lithic, archaeobotanical, and zooarchaeological evidence, as well as the spatial distribution combined with ethnographic data, we interpret Taguatagua 3 as a logistic and temporary camp associated mainly with gomphothere hunting and butchering. Nevertheless, several other activities were carried out here as well, such as hide and/or bone preparation, small vertebrate and plant processing and consumption, and red ochre grinding. Botanical and eggshell remains suggest that the anthropic occupation occurred during the dry season. Considering the contemporaneous sites recorded in the basin, we conclude that the ancient Tagua Tagua lake was a key location along the region’s early hunter-gatherer mobility circuits. In this context, it acted as a recurrent hunting/scavenging place during the Late Pleistocene due to its abundant, diverse, and predictable resources.本研究报道了塔瓜塔瓜3号（Taguatagua 3）遗址的发掘与多维度分析结果。该遗址为智利中部古塔瓜塔瓜湖区域内一处新发现的晚更新世遗址，其出土的考古遗存丰富且极具研究价值。遗址内的人类活动遗存保存在年代序列严谨的地层堆积中，为南美南部早期狩猎采集人群的移动模式、生计策略与定居模式提供了全新研究资料。本研究构建的年代模型，以及直接从燃烧遗迹获取的碳十四测年数据均显示，该遗址的人类活动发生在约12440~12550校正碳十四年（cal yr BP）的短时间窗口内。综合埋藏学、地质考古学、石器考古学、植物考古学与动物考古学证据，结合遗址空间分布与民族志资料，本研究将塔瓜塔瓜3号遗址判定为一处以嵌齿象（gomphothere）狩猎与屠宰为主要活动的临时性后勤营地。不过该遗址同时还存在其他多种活动痕迹，包括兽皮/骨骼处理、小型脊椎动物与植物的加工食用，以及赤铁矿研磨等。植物遗存与蛋壳残骸的分析结果表明，该遗址的人类活动发生在旱季。结合该流域内同期遗址的考古发现，本研究认为古塔瓜塔瓜湖是该区域早期狩猎采集人群移动路线中的关键节点。在此背景下，由于该区域拥有丰富多样且可预测的自然资源，古塔瓜塔瓜湖在晚更新世时期成为了狩猎/食腐活动的高频选址。