Dr. Tom Dillehay

So what we found inside that hut was just one item, five masticated cuds full of medicinal plants. So what we think was is probably a medicinal hut. And located 30 meters away was the foundations of timbers, branches of trees laid out kind of a rectangular fashion. Think of it like an ice tray formation. and they were staked into the ground.

So what we found inside that hut was just one item, five masticated cuds full of medicinal plants. So what we think was is probably a medicinal hut. And located 30 meters away was the foundations of timbers, branches of trees laid out kind of a rectangular fashion. Think of it like an ice tray formation. and they were staked into the ground.

So what we found inside that hut was just one item, five masticated cuds full of medicinal plants. So what we think was is probably a medicinal hut. And located 30 meters away was the foundations of timbers, branches of trees laid out kind of a rectangular fashion. Think of it like an ice tray formation. and they were staked into the ground.

There were stakes that the heads were pounded flat, and the points that were down into the push into the ground were burned to harden the tips. And in there, and amongst that, we found small fire pits, we found edible plants, medicinal plants, chunks of meat from the mastodons that were killed, bone tools, stone tools, and wood tools as well.

There were stakes that the heads were pounded flat, and the points that were down into the push into the ground were burned to harden the tips. And in there, and amongst that, we found small fire pits, we found edible plants, medicinal plants, chunks of meat from the mastodons that were killed, bone tools, stone tools, and wood tools as well.

There were stakes that the heads were pounded flat, and the points that were down into the push into the ground were burned to harden the tips. And in there, and amongst that, we found small fire pits, we found edible plants, medicinal plants, chunks of meat from the mastodons that were killed, bone tools, stone tools, and wood tools as well.

The kind of trash that you would expect if you were camping somewhere for a long period of time. You see, all of this had collapsed. And what we found in both those structures on the floors were tiny microscopic pieces of hide that was preserved because the structure obviously had collapsed over time.

The kind of trash that you would expect if you were camping somewhere for a long period of time. You see, all of this had collapsed. And what we found in both those structures on the floors were tiny microscopic pieces of hide that was preserved because the structure obviously had collapsed over time.

The kind of trash that you would expect if you were camping somewhere for a long period of time. You see, all of this had collapsed. And what we found in both those structures on the floors were tiny microscopic pieces of hide that was preserved because the structure obviously had collapsed over time.

We estimate, in looking at the plant remains that mature during all periods of the year, that people at Monty Bear II probably live there at least 10 months, but probably close to one year.

We estimate, in looking at the plant remains that mature during all periods of the year, that people at Monty Bear II probably live there at least 10 months, but probably close to one year.

We estimate, in looking at the plant remains that mature during all periods of the year, that people at Monty Bear II probably live there at least 10 months, but probably close to one year.

Yeah. I mean, when you look at the plant remains, we had 73 different edible and medicinal plant remains there, including the seaweeds. And you look at the use of the woods for different functions, firewood, making tools. There's one tree species called maki, and it's very flexible. So when the wind blows, it kind of adapts to the wind and the structure would sway a little bit, probably.

Yeah. I mean, when you look at the plant remains, we had 73 different edible and medicinal plant remains there, including the seaweeds. And you look at the use of the woods for different functions, firewood, making tools. There's one tree species called maki, and it's very flexible. So when the wind blows, it kind of adapts to the wind and the structure would sway a little bit, probably.

Yeah. I mean, when you look at the plant remains, we had 73 different edible and medicinal plant remains there, including the seaweeds. And you look at the use of the woods for different functions, firewood, making tools. There's one tree species called maki, and it's very flexible. So when the wind blows, it kind of adapts to the wind and the structure would sway a little bit, probably.

The point being, these people had intimate knowledge of that forest in that setting. And that indicates that they were there for a long time before Monte Verde to learn where these resources were and how to use them.

The point being, these people had intimate knowledge of that forest in that setting. And that indicates that they were there for a long time before Monte Verde to learn where these resources were and how to use them.

The point being, these people had intimate knowledge of that forest in that setting. And that indicates that they were there for a long time before Monte Verde to learn where these resources were and how to use them.

And the fact that a lot of these resources come from the Indian mountains to the east and down toward the coast and out in a broad radius probably suggests there were other peoples around, obviously, and they were exchanging products with them.

And the fact that a lot of these resources come from the Indian mountains to the east and down toward the coast and out in a broad radius probably suggests there were other peoples around, obviously, and they were exchanging products with them.