discovering ancient high-altitude human settlements
By zteve t evans
Newly discovered archaeological sites 2.8 miles (4,500 metres) above sea level, high in the Andes mountains of Peru, have shed new light on the altitudes that archaeologist thought was possible for humans to create permanent settlements. These new discoveries have surprised archaeologists who had previously considered it impossible for humans to settle at such high altitudes. The existence of the sites at such altitudes reveals that humans managed to adapt to such harsh environments much earlier than had previously been thought.
High-altitude living
A study published in the magazine Science (24 October 2014) reveals that an archaeological team has discovered artefacts and stone buildings decorated with art works which the researchers say are evidence of continued human settlement at high-altitudes. Kurt Rademaker of the University of Maine, the lead author of the report said, "There are many sites of this age at lower elevations in the Andes, and of course there are older sites [at lower elevations] elsewhere in the world, but there is nothing this old at this elevation."
At such a high altitude the environment would be exceptionally harsh and difficult to live in. Settlers would have to cope with cold temperatures, high solar radiation and low oxygen and the researchers are not sure how they managed to survive in such inhospitable places. Some experts think that the settlers may have genetically adapted to the conditions over thousands of years.
Artifacts that have been found imply humans settled their within 2,000 years of the first appearance of humans to South America. According to Rademaker, "This suggests that humans either developed genetic adaptations to high-altitude conditions extremely quickly, or that people colonized high altitudes before genetic adaptations evolved."
The team looked at two sites Cuncaicha and a high altitude site, Puncuncho Basin. At Cuncaicha they discovered a variety of tools such as hand axes and bone scrapers as well as over 500 spear and arrow heads. They also found animal bones and evidence that roots high in starch were eaten. The researchers thought this site could have been the base site.
The other site, Pucuncho Basin, is set at a greater altitude than the Cuncaicha site and was possibly used for hunting. At both sites large bones were discovered that dated back to the late Pleistocene period over 12,000 years ago.
A study published in the magazine Science (24 October 2014) reveals that an archaeological team has discovered artefacts and stone buildings decorated with art works which the researchers say are evidence of continued human settlement at high-altitudes. Kurt Rademaker of the University of Maine, the lead author of the report said, "There are many sites of this age at lower elevations in the Andes, and of course there are older sites [at lower elevations] elsewhere in the world, but there is nothing this old at this elevation."
At such a high altitude the environment would be exceptionally harsh and difficult to live in. Settlers would have to cope with cold temperatures, high solar radiation and low oxygen and the researchers are not sure how they managed to survive in such inhospitable places. Some experts think that the settlers may have genetically adapted to the conditions over thousands of years.
Artifacts that have been found imply humans settled their within 2,000 years of the first appearance of humans to South America. According to Rademaker, "This suggests that humans either developed genetic adaptations to high-altitude conditions extremely quickly, or that people colonized high altitudes before genetic adaptations evolved."
The team looked at two sites Cuncaicha and a high altitude site, Puncuncho Basin. At Cuncaicha they discovered a variety of tools such as hand axes and bone scrapers as well as over 500 spear and arrow heads. They also found animal bones and evidence that roots high in starch were eaten. The researchers thought this site could have been the base site.
The other site, Pucuncho Basin, is set at a greater altitude than the Cuncaicha site and was possibly used for hunting. At both sites large bones were discovered that dated back to the late Pleistocene period over 12,000 years ago.
The possibility of more high-altitude sites
This is the first time archaeologists have found evidence of human settlement at altitudes over 4,000 meters above sea level that goes back in time as far as at these sites do. It might be that the challenges of living at high altitude restricted the number of human settlements. But Rademaker and his team also think it might be that archaeologists may not have been looking for such sites. Daniel Sandweiss, professor of anthropology and climate studies at the University of Maine, and a co-author of the study explains, "Perhaps people haven't searched for these sites in the right way, or in enough places. Few archaeologists work at such high altitudes. High-elevation mountains and plateaus are among the most remote and least archaeologically-studied lands on the planet."
The researchers believe that there may be other high altitude sites that have yet to be discovered as archeologists now have more idea what to look for. According to Rademaker, "High-elevation mountains and plateaus are among the most remote and least archaeologically-studied lands on the planet, so we really lack a thorough knowledge of what is there."
Such sites, despite their high-altitude and challenging environment may have offered those who could adapt and equip themselves a number of opportunities and benefits. Rademaker said, “The Pucuncho Basin, for example, contains abundant freshwater, bogs that support animal prey, rock shelters, rocks for stone tool making, and plants for fuel.”
This is the first time archaeologists have found evidence of human settlement at altitudes over 4,000 meters above sea level that goes back in time as far as at these sites do. It might be that the challenges of living at high altitude restricted the number of human settlements. But Rademaker and his team also think it might be that archaeologists may not have been looking for such sites. Daniel Sandweiss, professor of anthropology and climate studies at the University of Maine, and a co-author of the study explains, "Perhaps people haven't searched for these sites in the right way, or in enough places. Few archaeologists work at such high altitudes. High-elevation mountains and plateaus are among the most remote and least archaeologically-studied lands on the planet."
The researchers believe that there may be other high altitude sites that have yet to be discovered as archeologists now have more idea what to look for. According to Rademaker, "High-elevation mountains and plateaus are among the most remote and least archaeologically-studied lands on the planet, so we really lack a thorough knowledge of what is there."
Such sites, despite their high-altitude and challenging environment may have offered those who could adapt and equip themselves a number of opportunities and benefits. Rademaker said, “The Pucuncho Basin, for example, contains abundant freshwater, bogs that support animal prey, rock shelters, rocks for stone tool making, and plants for fuel.”
Pushing back the boundaries
These two ancient sites have pushed back the boundaries of modern thinking about when humans colonized high altitudes terrains. It seems that humans settled these high altitude sites much earlier than had previously been believed, even before genetic adaptations had evolved fully, though this would have been a slow ongoing process. This leaves them wondering when it was these adaptations to high altitude living first presented in modern high-altitude living humans.
The experts think it likely there may be are more sites in the Andes waiting to be discovered and possibly others exist in other parts of the world are waiting discovery. Rademaker said, "There is a lot left to learn about when and how this happened, not just in the Andes but in other high-elevation regions, and learning it will tell us more about human evolution."
Now that archeologists know about the potential existence of more high-altitude sites they will be on the look out for new discoveries to push the boundaries of our knowledge back even further.
© 4/11/2014 zteve t evans
These two ancient sites have pushed back the boundaries of modern thinking about when humans colonized high altitudes terrains. It seems that humans settled these high altitude sites much earlier than had previously been believed, even before genetic adaptations had evolved fully, though this would have been a slow ongoing process. This leaves them wondering when it was these adaptations to high altitude living first presented in modern high-altitude living humans.
The experts think it likely there may be are more sites in the Andes waiting to be discovered and possibly others exist in other parts of the world are waiting discovery. Rademaker said, "There is a lot left to learn about when and how this happened, not just in the Andes but in other high-elevation regions, and learning it will tell us more about human evolution."
Now that archeologists know about the potential existence of more high-altitude sites they will be on the look out for new discoveries to push the boundaries of our knowledge back even further.
© 4/11/2014 zteve t evans
References and Attributions
Copyright 14 November, 2014 zteve t evans
Copyright 14 November, 2014 zteve t evans
- Science 24 October 2014: Vol. 346 no. 6208 pp. 466-469 - DOI: 10.1126/science.1258260 Report - Paleoindian settlement of the high-altitude Peruvian Andes
- Kurt Rademaker, Gregory Hodgins, Katherine Moore, Sonia Zarrillo, Christopher Miller, Gordon R. M. Bromley, Peter Leach, David A. Reid, Willy Yépez Álvarez, Daniel H. Sandweiss
- AAAS - Science: Archaeologists in the Andes Discover Oldest High-Altitude SettlementsOldest High-Altitude Human Settlement Discovered in AndesEffects of high altitude on humans - Wikipedia