Wild camelid consumption by local comunities in Quebrada de Humahuaca, Jujuy, Argentina

Abstract

Since archeo-faunal studies begun at Quebrada de Humahuaca, one of the main concerns has been assessing the role wild animals had in the Prehispanic human diet. Although there were a number of wild species represented in each of the analyzed contexts, the main focus of this article is on camelids, given that they were present in higher proportions across all the samples. With the aim of outlining consumption models, some researchers have proposed that during the earlier, Formative Period exploitation of wild camelids was more important than during later phases, or during the Inka occupation of the region. Nevertheless recently new studies, on a greater number of samples are challenging this supposed decline in the consumption of wild resources, emphasizing that consumption of wild resources seems to have varied depending on the temporal, site and locational context. A study of a faunal collection from the Quebrada de Humahuaca, combined with the bone sample results of a skeletal remains analysis from the Los Amarillos site comprehends an occupation range of more than five hundred years (1000-1536 dC). Together, these assemblages permit us to challenge the gradual diminishing of wild camelid consumption through time.