Guitarrero Cave
Encyclopedia
Guitarrero Cave is located in the Callejon de Huaylas
valley in Yungay Province
, in the Ancash region
of Peru
. The cave stands 50 meters above Rio Santa and 2,580 meters above sea level.
to 10,610 BCE.
Above all that, there were series of Archaic period with campfires, dated between 10,500 years ago and 9,000 years ago. Wood, bone, antler, and fiber cordage, and other were artifacts that recovered from the level, as well as willow leaf, tanged, lanceolate, and concave base Ichuna/Arcata projectile points. A single grinding slab and a bone flesher were also recovered from this part of the area.
Levels were included in the Early and Middle Horizon
occupations, cist tombs, and wall paintings between about the 1000 BCE–1000 CE.
In 1960s, archeologists discovered artifacts in an extraordinary state of preservation at the site. Remarkably, textiles, wood and leather tools, and basketry have been preserved intact. Some of the evidence of early domesticated beans Phaseolus
, chili, corn and other cultivars have been argued for Guitarrero.
Fiberwork founded in the cave dates back over ten-thousand years – the earliest found in South America. The cave held utilitarian containers made by twisting, looping, and knotting plant fibers.
The people of Gutarrero Cave are possible ancestors of the Chavín
culture.
Callejón de Huaylas
The Santa Valley is a inter-andean valley in the Ancash Region in the north-central highlands of Peru. Due to its location between two mountain ranges it is known as Callejón de Huaylas —Alley of Huaylas—, whereas Huaylas refers to the name of the territorial division's name during the Viceroyalty...
valley in Yungay Province
Yungay Province
-Political division:Yungay is divided into eight districts, which are:-External links:...
, in the Ancash region
Ancash Region
Ancash is a region in northern Peru. It is bordered by the La Libertad region on the north, the Huánuco and Pasco regions on the east, the Lima region on the south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. Its capital is the city of Huaraz, and its largest city and port is Chimbote...
of Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. The cave stands 50 meters above Rio Santa and 2,580 meters above sea level.
Archeological findings
Guitarrero Cave has evidence of human use during 8000 BCE and possibly as early as 10,560 BCE. A human's mandible and teeth found in the cave have been carbon datedRadiocarbon dating
Radiocarbon dating is a radiometric dating method that uses the naturally occurring radioisotope carbon-14 to estimate the age of carbon-bearing materials up to about 58,000 to 62,000 years. Raw, i.e. uncalibrated, radiocarbon ages are usually reported in radiocarbon years "Before Present" ,...
to 10,610 BCE.
Above all that, there were series of Archaic period with campfires, dated between 10,500 years ago and 9,000 years ago. Wood, bone, antler, and fiber cordage, and other were artifacts that recovered from the level, as well as willow leaf, tanged, lanceolate, and concave base Ichuna/Arcata projectile points. A single grinding slab and a bone flesher were also recovered from this part of the area.
Levels were included in the Early and Middle Horizon
Cultural periods of Peru
This is a chart of cultural periods of Peru and the Andean Region developed by Edward Lanning and used by some archaeologists studying the area...
occupations, cist tombs, and wall paintings between about the 1000 BCE–1000 CE.
In 1960s, archeologists discovered artifacts in an extraordinary state of preservation at the site. Remarkably, textiles, wood and leather tools, and basketry have been preserved intact. Some of the evidence of early domesticated beans Phaseolus
Phaseolus
Phaseolus is a genus in the family Fabaceae of about fifty plant species, all native to the Americas.At least four of the species have been domesticated since pre-Columbian times for their beans. Most prominent among these is the common bean, P...
, chili, corn and other cultivars have been argued for Guitarrero.
Fiberwork founded in the cave dates back over ten-thousand years – the earliest found in South America. The cave held utilitarian containers made by twisting, looping, and knotting plant fibers.
The people of Gutarrero Cave are possible ancestors of the Chavín
Chavin
Chavin may refer to:* Chavín culture, an early culture of the Andean region, pre-dating the Moche culture in Peru* Chavín de Huantar, an archaeological site built by the Chavín culture* Chavin, Indre, a commune of the Indre département in France...
culture.
Cultivators
Some of the earliest cultivated plants in South America have been found in the cave. They include:- Ají pepperAjí pepperCapsicum baccatum is a species of chili pepper that includes the following cultivar and varieties:*Aji amarillo, or amarillo chili*Peppadew*Lemon drop*Bishop's Crown*Brazilian Starfish*Wild Baccatum-Origins and distribution:The C...
(Capsicum baccatum): first appears at Guitarrero cave in 8,500 BCE - OcaOcaOxalis tuberosa is an herbaceous perennial plant that overwinters as underground stem tubers. These tubers are known as oca, oka, or New Zealand Yam. The plant was brought into cultivation in the central and southern Andes for its tubers, which are used as a root vegetable...
(Oxalis tuberosa): first appears 8,500–7,500 BCE - Aji (Capsicum chinenseCapsicum chinenseCapsicum chinense , commonly known as "Yellow Lantern Chili", is a species of Chilli Pepper native to The Americas. C. chinense chillies are well-known for their exceptional heat.-Taxonomy:...
): first appears 8,000–7,500 BCE - Common beanCommon beanPhaseolus vulgaris, the common bean, is an herbaceous annual plant domesticated independently in ancient Mesoamerica and the Andes, and now grown worldwide for its edible bean, popular both dry and as a green bean. The leaf is occasionally used as a leaf vegetable, and the straw is used for fodder...
(Phaseolus vulgaris): first appears 8,000–7,500 BCE - Pallar bean (Phaseolus lunatus): first appears 8,000–7,5000 BCE
- LúcumaLúcumaThe lúcuma is a subtropical fruit native to the Peru's Andean region. Lucuma has been found on ceramics at burial sites of the indigenous people of coastal Peru...
(Lucuma bifera): first appears 8,000–5,500 BCE - Olluco (Ullucus tuberosus): first appears 6,000 BCE at the cave Tres Ventanas in ChileChileChile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
and next at Guitarrero cave 5,500 BCE. - Zapallo (CucurbitaCucurbitaCucurbita is a genus in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae first cultivated in Mesoamerica and now used in many parts of the world. It includes species grown for their fruit and edible seeds , as well as some species grown only as gourds...
sp.): first appears 7,000 BCE - MaizeMaizeMaize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
or corn (Zea mays): possibly first traces but not conclusively identified from 6,200 BCE. Maize has been identified in the Ayacucho RegionAyacucho RegionAyacucho is a region of Peru, located in the south-central Andes of the country. Its capital is the city of Ayacucho. The region was one of the hardest hit by terrorism during the 1980s during the guerrilla war waged by Shining Path known as the internal conflict in Peru.A referendum was held on...
of south central Peru as early as 4,400 and 3,100 BCE.