Dr. Tom Dillehay

We're not just talking about people hunting big game. In this sense, it'd be sharks. We actually found one whale bone too. Well, it was probably washed up on shore, as happens today. People butchered it and consumed it. Now, that was in the levels of 14,000 years ago. But these people are exploiting a wide range of resources. It's like they have a supermarket out there.

We're not just talking about people hunting big game. In this sense, it'd be sharks. We actually found one whale bone too. Well, it was probably washed up on shore, as happens today. People butchered it and consumed it. Now, that was in the levels of 14,000 years ago. But these people are exploiting a wide range of resources. It's like they have a supermarket out there.

We're not just talking about people hunting big game. In this sense, it'd be sharks. We actually found one whale bone too. Well, it was probably washed up on shore, as happens today. People butchered it and consumed it. Now, that was in the levels of 14,000 years ago. But these people are exploiting a wide range of resources. It's like they have a supermarket out there.

They go into it and they're eating anything they can get their hands on.

They go into it and they're eating anything they can get their hands on.

They go into it and they're eating anything they can get their hands on.

Yeah, you can throw in a number of sites from Colombia, Brazil, again, Argentina and other places. What is this indicating very early on is that these people exploited a very wide variety of not only edible plants and, of course, animals, large and small, but also fishing, shellfish collecting and collecting medicinal plants. I mean, let's face it, they're humans with health problems.

Yeah, you can throw in a number of sites from Colombia, Brazil, again, Argentina and other places. What is this indicating very early on is that these people exploited a very wide variety of not only edible plants and, of course, animals, large and small, but also fishing, shellfish collecting and collecting medicinal plants. I mean, let's face it, they're humans with health problems.

Yeah, you can throw in a number of sites from Colombia, Brazil, again, Argentina and other places. What is this indicating very early on is that these people exploited a very wide variety of not only edible plants and, of course, animals, large and small, but also fishing, shellfish collecting and collecting medicinal plants. I mean, let's face it, they're humans with health problems.

out there learning what is in that environment and exploiting it probably effectively and efficiently and adapting, as we talked about before, their technology to these different and differing situations. They're a lot more acute and astute than we think they are. They're just not simple mobile hunters and gatherers on the move.

out there learning what is in that environment and exploiting it probably effectively and efficiently and adapting, as we talked about before, their technology to these different and differing situations. They're a lot more acute and astute than we think they are. They're just not simple mobile hunters and gatherers on the move.

out there learning what is in that environment and exploiting it probably effectively and efficiently and adapting, as we talked about before, their technology to these different and differing situations. They're a lot more acute and astute than we think they are. They're just not simple mobile hunters and gatherers on the move.

But in working these sites, you gain a real appreciation for the intelligence and intuition of these people.

But in working these sites, you gain a real appreciation for the intelligence and intuition of these people.

But in working these sites, you gain a real appreciation for the intelligence and intuition of these people.

Oh, absolutely. That's why I say they have intimate knowledge of that environment. And as you say, probably a lot of it was trial and error as well. We found an interesting plant at Monte Verde called Drosetera sp. It's just a scientific name. And it comes from the steppes of Argentina, the other side of the Andes. And it's very toxic and poisonous.

Oh, absolutely. That's why I say they have intimate knowledge of that environment. And as you say, probably a lot of it was trial and error as well. We found an interesting plant at Monte Verde called Drosetera sp. It's just a scientific name. And it comes from the steppes of Argentina, the other side of the Andes. And it's very toxic and poisonous.

Oh, absolutely. That's why I say they have intimate knowledge of that environment. And as you say, probably a lot of it was trial and error as well. We found an interesting plant at Monte Verde called Drosetera sp. It's just a scientific name. And it comes from the steppes of Argentina, the other side of the Andes. And it's very toxic and poisonous.

And today, the indigenous people have to masticate it and spit it out, let it dry in the sun, and it can become potentially a medicinal element. But that indicated to me, and it always stuck in my mind, okay, they brought that plant back to Monte Berri. Did they learn how to use it from groups in Argentina? Did they try to use it? Was somebody sick from it? Did they abandon that plant?

And today, the indigenous people have to masticate it and spit it out, let it dry in the sun, and it can become potentially a medicinal element. But that indicated to me, and it always stuck in my mind, okay, they brought that plant back to Monte Berri. Did they learn how to use it from groups in Argentina? Did they try to use it? Was somebody sick from it? Did they abandon that plant?