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Lithic usewear confirms the function of Wilamaya Patjxa projectile points


Abstract Approximately 9000 years ago at the Andean highland site of Wilamaya Patjxa, forager communities interred female and male individuals with projectile points, suggesting that large-mammal hunting may have been a gender neutral activity among that community. We report a lithic usewear analysis, which confirms that the ostensible projectile points were indeed used as projectile points. The data further reveal evidence of cutting and hide scraping consistent with animal processing activities. A new radiocarbon date shows that the female and male individuals were contemporaries, or nearly so, sometime between 9.0 and 8.7 cal. ka. These findings support a model of early subsistence practices in which both female and male individuals at Wilamaya Patjxa hunted large mammals.
Authors Ashley M. Smallwood ORCID , Randall Haas University of WyomingORCID , Thomas A. Jennings
Journal Info Nature Portfolio | Scientific Reports , vol: 13 , iss: 1
Publication Date 11/3/2023
ISSN 2045-2322
TypeKeyword Image article
Open Access gold Gold Access
DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45743-7
KeywordsKeyword Image Ancient Human Behavior (Score: 0.513172)