Dr. Tom Dillehay

Yeah, first of all, back then, the site was about 50 kilometers away from the Pacific coast, located in the headwaters of a small stream called Chinchuapi that was, at the time, probably about five meters wide. And it was located in a open forest, what we call a cool temperate rainforest.

Yeah, first of all, back then, the site was about 50 kilometers away from the Pacific coast, located in the headwaters of a small stream called Chinchuapi that was, at the time, probably about five meters wide. And it was located in a open forest, what we call a cool temperate rainforest.

And what you could see back then, certainly in today from Monte Verde, are three snow-capped volcanoes, all of which are active. So the setting was quite nice, but... In that area was boggy terrain, several creeks as well, a pretty well-endowed forest with a lot of resources. The animals would have been the mastodons we talked about, the American horse, ground sloth, and smaller game as well.

And what you could see back then, certainly in today from Monte Verde, are three snow-capped volcanoes, all of which are active. So the setting was quite nice, but... In that area was boggy terrain, several creeks as well, a pretty well-endowed forest with a lot of resources. The animals would have been the mastodons we talked about, the American horse, ground sloth, and smaller game as well.

And what you could see back then, certainly in today from Monte Verde, are three snow-capped volcanoes, all of which are active. So the setting was quite nice, but... In that area was boggy terrain, several creeks as well, a pretty well-endowed forest with a lot of resources. The animals would have been the mastodons we talked about, the American horse, ground sloth, and smaller game as well.

But the resources we found at the site and excavated, plant remains, eggshells from birds, and other edibles, come from a radius stretching all the way out to the coast. up into the Andean Mountains, 30 kilometers to the east.

But the resources we found at the site and excavated, plant remains, eggshells from birds, and other edibles, come from a radius stretching all the way out to the coast. up into the Andean Mountains, 30 kilometers to the east.

But the resources we found at the site and excavated, plant remains, eggshells from birds, and other edibles, come from a radius stretching all the way out to the coast. up into the Andean Mountains, 30 kilometers to the east.

So it looks like these people were moving up and down a river that was located about five kilometers away called the Mauyin River, up and down that river that connected the Andean Mountains in the east to the Pacific coast. And in fact, we found 16 different species of edible seaweeds at the site. So it's pretty strong evidence these people were beachcombers.

So it looks like these people were moving up and down a river that was located about five kilometers away called the Mauyin River, up and down that river that connected the Andean Mountains in the east to the Pacific coast. And in fact, we found 16 different species of edible seaweeds at the site. So it's pretty strong evidence these people were beachcombers.

So it looks like these people were moving up and down a river that was located about five kilometers away called the Mauyin River, up and down that river that connected the Andean Mountains in the east to the Pacific coast. And in fact, we found 16 different species of edible seaweeds at the site. So it's pretty strong evidence these people were beachcombers.

You know, they were roaming the beaches and picking up seaweed, much like the indigenous people do today in the area. Those people are called Wiliche. And exploiting a lot of the wood products, too. We had 13 different species of wood. Some were used in this construction, like pole frame of this tent-like structure I mentioned. Others was used for firewood, others for tools and so forth.

You know, they were roaming the beaches and picking up seaweed, much like the indigenous people do today in the area. Those people are called Wiliche. And exploiting a lot of the wood products, too. We had 13 different species of wood. Some were used in this construction, like pole frame of this tent-like structure I mentioned. Others was used for firewood, others for tools and so forth.

You know, they were roaming the beaches and picking up seaweed, much like the indigenous people do today in the area. Those people are called Wiliche. And exploiting a lot of the wood products, too. We had 13 different species of wood. Some were used in this construction, like pole frame of this tent-like structure I mentioned. Others was used for firewood, others for tools and so forth.

So just an incredible array of artifacts, well-preserved.

So just an incredible array of artifacts, well-preserved.

So just an incredible array of artifacts, well-preserved.

Yeah, it is. We found two structures at the site. One was isolated about 30 meters away from this longer tent-like structure. And this was wishbone shaped, where they piled up sand and rock as a foundation and pushed poles into it. And those poles were inclined toward the centerpiece and draped with animal hides. I'm talking about paleolama and mastodon hides. And it collapsed, obviously.

Yeah, it is. We found two structures at the site. One was isolated about 30 meters away from this longer tent-like structure. And this was wishbone shaped, where they piled up sand and rock as a foundation and pushed poles into it. And those poles were inclined toward the centerpiece and draped with animal hides. I'm talking about paleolama and mastodon hides. And it collapsed, obviously.

Yeah, it is. We found two structures at the site. One was isolated about 30 meters away from this longer tent-like structure. And this was wishbone shaped, where they piled up sand and rock as a foundation and pushed poles into it. And those poles were inclined toward the centerpiece and draped with animal hides. I'm talking about paleolama and mastodon hides. And it collapsed, obviously.