Contextual, Taphonomic, and Paleoecological Insights from Anurans on Tiwanaku Sites in Southern Peru
We examine the processes that resulted in the deposition of bones of at least three anuran genera on four archaeological sites associated with the Tiwanaku culture occupied between 700–1100 CE in the Moquegua Valley of far southern Peru. We review archaeological data and ethnographic accounts of And...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Quaternary |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-550X/5/1/16 |
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| author | Juliana Rubinatto Serrano Maria Camila Vallejo-Pareja Susan D. deFrance Sarah I. Baitzel Paul S. Goldstein |
| author_facet | Juliana Rubinatto Serrano Maria Camila Vallejo-Pareja Susan D. deFrance Sarah I. Baitzel Paul S. Goldstein |
| author_sort | Juliana Rubinatto Serrano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We examine the processes that resulted in the deposition of bones of at least three anuran genera on four archaeological sites associated with the Tiwanaku culture occupied between 700–1100 CE in the Moquegua Valley of far southern Peru. We review archaeological data and ethnographic accounts of Andean peoples using frogs and toads for food and in rain-quest rituals. Anuran bones are common in prehispanic cemeteries, but far less common in habitational and ceremonial sites. The quantity of anuran remains in certain cemeteries is anomalous in comparison to other archaeological sites in the valley and to Tiwanaku sites in other geographic settings. We conclude that anurans are most common where abandoned below-ground rock-covered tombs are likely to have been reused by nesting owls, and propose that most anuran remains in archaeological contexts in Moquegua are the result of predation. We consider environmental, cultural and taphonomic explanations and posit that the abundance of anuran remains relates to the 14th-century Miraflores ENSO event. This event generated increased rainfall in the desert, creating conditions favorable for frogs and toads, and predation by owls. We also advocate for the use of fine-screening to recover small-sized animal remains, such as anurans, that can be used to understand taphonomic processes and paleoenvironmental conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:48:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-37e334fb89af488bb9a0db89d309bd9c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-550X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:48:49Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Quaternary |
| spelling | doaj.art-37e334fb89af488bb9a0db89d309bd9c2023-11-30T22:08:54ZengMDPI AGQuaternary2571-550X2022-03-01511610.3390/quat5010016Contextual, Taphonomic, and Paleoecological Insights from Anurans on Tiwanaku Sites in Southern PeruJuliana Rubinatto Serrano0Maria Camila Vallejo-Pareja1Susan D. deFrance2Sarah I. Baitzel3Paul S. Goldstein4Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USADepartment of Biology and Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USADepartment of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USADepartment of Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USADepartment of Anthropology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USAWe examine the processes that resulted in the deposition of bones of at least three anuran genera on four archaeological sites associated with the Tiwanaku culture occupied between 700–1100 CE in the Moquegua Valley of far southern Peru. We review archaeological data and ethnographic accounts of Andean peoples using frogs and toads for food and in rain-quest rituals. Anuran bones are common in prehispanic cemeteries, but far less common in habitational and ceremonial sites. The quantity of anuran remains in certain cemeteries is anomalous in comparison to other archaeological sites in the valley and to Tiwanaku sites in other geographic settings. We conclude that anurans are most common where abandoned below-ground rock-covered tombs are likely to have been reused by nesting owls, and propose that most anuran remains in archaeological contexts in Moquegua are the result of predation. We consider environmental, cultural and taphonomic explanations and posit that the abundance of anuran remains relates to the 14th-century Miraflores ENSO event. This event generated increased rainfall in the desert, creating conditions favorable for frogs and toads, and predation by owls. We also advocate for the use of fine-screening to recover small-sized animal remains, such as anurans, that can be used to understand taphonomic processes and paleoenvironmental conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-550X/5/1/16Burrowing Owl (<i>Athena cunicularia</i>)ENSOherpetofaunaMiddle HorizonMiraflores eventMoquegua |
| spellingShingle | Juliana Rubinatto Serrano Maria Camila Vallejo-Pareja Susan D. deFrance Sarah I. Baitzel Paul S. Goldstein Contextual, Taphonomic, and Paleoecological Insights from Anurans on Tiwanaku Sites in Southern Peru Quaternary Burrowing Owl (<i>Athena cunicularia</i>) ENSO herpetofauna Middle Horizon Miraflores event Moquegua |
| title | Contextual, Taphonomic, and Paleoecological Insights from Anurans on Tiwanaku Sites in Southern Peru |
| title_full | Contextual, Taphonomic, and Paleoecological Insights from Anurans on Tiwanaku Sites in Southern Peru |
| title_fullStr | Contextual, Taphonomic, and Paleoecological Insights from Anurans on Tiwanaku Sites in Southern Peru |
| title_full_unstemmed | Contextual, Taphonomic, and Paleoecological Insights from Anurans on Tiwanaku Sites in Southern Peru |
| title_short | Contextual, Taphonomic, and Paleoecological Insights from Anurans on Tiwanaku Sites in Southern Peru |
| title_sort | contextual taphonomic and paleoecological insights from anurans on tiwanaku sites in southern peru |
| topic | Burrowing Owl (<i>Athena cunicularia</i>) ENSO herpetofauna Middle Horizon Miraflores event Moquegua |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-550X/5/1/16 |
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