book chapter
La prehistoria temprana de la Península de Santa Elena, Ecuador: cultura Las Vegas
Museos del Banco Central del Ecuador • Guayaquil, Ecuador • Published In 1988 • Pages: 1-104, 133-169, 187-202, 215-274
By: Stothert, Karen E..
Abstract
This study, in Spanish, is the result of three years of archaeological investigations of the Las Vegas culture located on Santa Elena peninsula in southeastern Ecuador. Of the 32 known sites in the area, the Las Vegas site, designated as OGSE80, is one of the best studied ones in Ecuador representing the oldest human adaptation to the littoral known for northwest South America and Mesoamerica. Excavations at the site uncovered some 200 human skeletons representing the late phase of the Las Vegas culture (i.e., 8,250 B.P.-6,600 B.P.). These remains represent the largest sample so far in the New World from which data on population size, health, and funeral customs can be obtained. At the end of this document the author describes and reconstructs the way of life of these people based on her inferences about their adaptation to the paleo-environment of that day. Other chapters in this work provide information on flora, fauna, minerals, artifacts, and the laboratory analysis of the artifactual components from the site. Data on archaeological structures is scant, with only a very few domestic dwellings being described, although these represent some of the earliest habitation sites in Ecuador. Stothert characterizes the economy of the Las Vegas people as being based on hunting, fishing, and gathering with some limited horticulture, especially in terms of maize agriculture.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2001
- Region
- South America
- Sub Region
- Northwestern South America
- Document Type
- book chapter
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Archaeologist
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- John Beierle; 2000
- Field Date
- ca. 1980s (three years)
- Coverage Date
- 10,800 BP-6,600 BP (8,850 B.C.-4,650 B.C.)
- Coverage Place
- Las Vegas site (OGSE-80), Santa Elena peninsula, Guayas Province, Ecuador
- Notes
- Karen E. Stothert
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 261-271)
- LCSH
- Indians of South America--Antiquities