El sitio Pilauco, Pleistoceno tardío, Osorno, Chile.
1, 2 3
Mario Pino Ximena Navarro-Harris , Rafael Labarca , Martín Chavez-Hoffmeister , Omar Recabarren , Patricia
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Canales & Ricardo De Pol Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales & Evolutivas, Universidad Austral de Chile;; Departamento
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de Antropología, Universidad Católica de Temuco; Programa de Doctorado Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia
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de Buenos Aires; University of Bristol, School of Earth Science, U..K; Departamento de Oceanografía, Universidad de
Concepción, ricdepol@udec.cl.
1
E-mail: mariopino@uach.cl
Resumen. El sitio Pilauco está ubicado en la ciudad de
Osorno (40º34’12’’S, 73º06’13’’W). En el Pleistoceno tardío
estuvo dominado por una asociación vegetacional de
parque norpatagónico, tal como Monte Verde. Se han
recuperado 718 huesos de vertebrados extintos y extantes,
30 dientes y 11 coprolitos. Tafonómicamente se registran
procesos de carroñeo, pisoteo y reacomodación por
crecidas fluviales esporádicas.
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El sitio comenzó a formarse hace 13.470±35 años C A.P.
Posteriormente se desarrolla un pantano sobre “ox-bow
lake”. La turba PB-7 contiene los restos paleontológicos y
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arqueológicos (13.220±60 - 11.004±186 años C AP). Las
familias de vertebrados representadas son
Gomphotheriidae, Equidae, Camelidae, Cervidae,
Mylodontidae, Mephitidae, Muridae y Myocastoridae. Los
artefactos líticos de basalto, andesita y obsidiana que
registran los humanos tempranos se encuentran solamente
en algunas unidades de excavación, asociadas a altas
concentraciones de huesos. Se presentan la estratigrafía,
sedimentología, paleontología, arqueología y tafonomía del
sitio, basado en un gran conjunto de fechas
radiocarbónicas.
Palabras Claves: norpatagonia chilena, megafauna,
hombre temprano, paleontología, arqueología.
1 Introduction
In the Intermediate Depression of south-central Chile sites
containing megafauna are frequently found by chance,
(until today 13 sites, Recabarren 2007). Usually the only
remains recovered are the molars and tusks of
gomphotheres. In 1986 a company was carrying out
excavations in Pilauco, a suburb of Osorno city (40°34’S-
73°07’ W). They found megafauna bones, classified as
mastodon and horse, kept today at the History Museum of
Osorno. Recabarren (2007) concluded that molars and
tusks of the Pilauco Gomphothere, as well as Gomphothere
remains from the other 12 sites, belong to Stegomastodon
platensis. An exploratory project was developed between
November 2007 and November 2008, excavating 41 m2.
(Pino, 2008). Today we know a) the site is located in a
wetland dating from late Pleistocene - early Holocene; b) a
large amount of this space (about 2 ha) was not used for
house building and is then available for excavations; and c)
in the site individuals from 7 mammal families were
registered. Megafauna was found coexisting with extant
mammals. Bird bones, pollen, diatoms and parasites were
also recovered.
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4 1
2
In a new approach, “exit”, Dillehay (2008) proposed to
understand cultural developments between the late
Pleistocene and early Holocene analyzing the early
rhythms towards social complexity. In this approach, the
emphasis is given to site location studies, paleo-faunal and
-floral studies, seasonality, mobility and sedentism, and
principles of organization”. Our work, till in a primary
phase, is towards this direction.
2 Results
2.1 Stratigraphy, Sedimentology and Age
It is possible to recognize two geomorphologic units, each
one with their own sets of beds. To the north the site is
limited by hills deposited by a major acid to intermediate
volcanic Andean regional activity. These volcanic
processes deposited a series of volcanoclastic flows,
grouped under “Secuencia piroclástica – epiclástica San
Pablo” (Pérez et al., 2003). The age of this unit is
equivalent to the Valdivia interglacial. In Pilauco six beds
compose the hill. The PB-1 to PB-6 layers correspond to
volcaniclastic and terrigenous sediments (Fig. 1). To the
south of the hill four sedimentary beds originated a
floodplain. Over the eroded and channelized top of PB-1
bed, well-sorted coarse gravel originate PB-6 layer. Above
these PB-7, -8 and -9 layer are located, forming well-
defined horizontal strata. The first two are composed by
peat including gravel clasts (mode 2-3 cm diameter, 0.5 -
16%) dispersed in a fine matrix (sand 13.4 – 36.9%; mud
33.1 - 53.4% and 11 - 32% total organic carbon mater).
This kind of texture can originate in a swamp that has
developed over a former ox-bow lake invaded sporadically
by river overfloods. No percussion marks were found in
the aphanitic basalts, which is a typical indicator of high-
velocity energy and impact.
The fossils of mammalian fauna and birds are associated
exclusively to the PB-7 layer, dated between 13.220 ± 60
and 11,122 ± 178 years B.P. The pure peat PB-9 layer
seals the site.
2.1 Record of vertebrates
Gomphotheriidae bones are the most abundant identified
vertebrate remains. The specimens found in 1986
correspond to a left hemimandible with m2 and m3
inserted, a right hemimandible with m3 inserted, an
isolated m2, a right humerus, three thoracic vertebrae, a
partial spinous process, and a fragment of skin. During the
2007-2008 campaign were obtained mostly vertebrae, the
atlas, ribs, two scapulae, and pelvic elements. During the
2010-2011 season, a high concentration of elements be was
found. Ribs exhibit the highest abundance. A tibia, tarsal,
vertebrae, molars and a skull were also excavated. It is
worth noting that small tusk fragments were found in the
surrounding grid squares, which suggests a high degree of
fragmentation or shattering. The finding of a second atlas
confirms the presence of at least two individuals in the
deposit. After Recabarren (2007) the Chilean
Gomphotheriidae remains registered south of 39º30’,
including the Pilauco specimens, and classified them as
Stegomastodon. platensis based on molar measurements
following Alberdi and Prado (1995) and Frassinetti and
Alberdi (2005) taxonomic proposal.
Ungulates are the second most abundant mammal remains
found in the Pilauco site, represented by the families
Equidae, Camelidae and Cervidae. The horse record of the
site includes 15 specimens attributed possibly to Equus
(Amerhippus) andium (Recabarren et al., 2011), belonging
to at least three individuals. These are the southernmost
records for the genus Equus, which expands its distribution
from 38º S to 40º S in the Chilean territory.
Camelids are locally represented by skeletal and dental
remains including a metatarsal and metacarpal shaft, a
astragalus, a fragment of tibia, an isolated canine tooth,
and a coxal. The fossils are temporarily assigned to cf.
Hemiacuhenia paradoxa Gervais & Ameghino 1880
(Labarca and Pino, 2010). Hemiauchenia has not been
recorded previously in Chile.
An isolated vertebra is the only available record of
Cervidae in the Pilauco site (Fig. 2). A detailed
morphological comparison with anatomical elements of
various representatives of the family suggests that the
specimen belongs to Pudu puda, the only confirmed record
of this species for the Pleistocene (González et al.,
unpublished results).
Xenarthra is represented by isolated 11 sloths osteoderms.
These dermal ossicles allow by first time confirmation of
the presence of this group in the region.
An isolated cranium belonging to the genus Conepatus
represents the carnivores. This is the first fossil record of
the family Mephitidae for the Pleistocene in Chile
(González et al., 2010). Recently, an isolated molar with a
highly worn crown has also been registered. The
morphology of the molar discards the assignation to the
herbivores described in the site (Aguilera et al., 2011).
According to the authors the molar presents considerable
degree of wear on its occlusal surface, therefore it is not
possible to recognize the metacones and paracones.
Aguilera et al. (2011) assigned the molar to Ursidae indet.
The presence of rodents is limited to two taxa. Dental
pieces confirm the presence of the genus Myocastor (Pino,
2008). The presence of Loxodontomys micropus has also
been confirmed through a cranium fragment (Canales,
2010).
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Figure 1. Schematic stratigraphy of the Pilauco site. PB-1:
Lapilli tuff. PB-2: Lapilli tuff with abundant volcanic ash matrix.
PB-3: Lapilli tuff with medium sand matrix. PB-4: Volcanic ash.
PB-5: Terrigenous coarse sand, with scattered angular pebbles.
PB-6: Gravel composed by clasts ranging from 1 to 15 cm in
diameter. PB-7: Peat with very dark brown matrix (10YR 3/1)
including isolated gravel clasts up to 7 cm, poorly selected. Rest
with erosion unconformity over PB-2 and PB-6. PB-8: Peat very
similar to PB-7, but slightly more brown in color (2.5Y 4/2) and
without fossils. PB-9: Black peat (2.5 Y 2/0). PB-7 and 8
interfinger with gravel and sand layers to the south.
2.2 Taphonomy
There are clear field evidences of extinct and extant bone
elements concentrating in the PB-7 level, between 350 and
450 cm of local altitude, which is within the 14,680 and
13,029 calibrated ages. Only one small rodent and two bird
fragments were obtained. No fish, amphibian or reptile
remains have been found, although systematically search.
The local accumulation of large megafauna bones suggests
that in PB-7, characterized by fine and organic textures,
there was no fluvial displacement of the carcass. This is in
accordance with the relative anatomical consistency of
some bones (e.g. atlas and skull). An initial study of the
marks on the bones of mammals has been performed. At
least four types of modifications were possible to detect:
carnivore marks, roots, trampling and abrasion (i.e.
Labarca, 2009). Trampling marks are the most abundant
and are characterized for being mainly superficial, with
irregular sides, winding forms and random orientations.
Such marks are registered both on gomphotheres as
ungulates bones. Carnivore marks concentrated exclusively
on gomphotheres bones. The abrasion marks have been
observed up to now only in the bones of camelids.
High buoyancy of small and pneumatic bones could
explain the absence of remains of small animals. Another
explanation is related to the acidic pH of the swamp water
and peat, were the thin calcareous material can be
dissolved. Predators could also have played a role in the
distribution of body parts often seen on the site, consuming
small bones and / or moving anatomical units into their
burrows (i.e. Martin, 2008). This scenario, however, does
not explain the absence of other large anatomical units of
gomphothere in the site, such as tusk, humerus and femurs.
Considering the human presence on the site, actually it is
not possible discard the possibility of selective transport of
anatomical units by hunter-gatherers to other areas.
2.3 Archaeology
The Pleistocene human population that inhabited the
Pilauco region, within a north Patagonian park landscape,
must have felt attracted by the presence of an enclave rich
in resources located in an ecotone of hills, floodplains and
swamps. The archaeological analysis has allowed us to
isolate a total of 101 intentionally modified lithic pieces.
These are represented by fine grain basalt and dacitic
obsidian cores; artifacts for scraping and cutting in basalt,
quartzite and dacitic obsidian with unifacial marginal
trimming, and principal chipping waste material (i.e.
Andrefsky, 1998). The basalt and quartzite were selected
from pebbles available in the deposits of the ancient local
river. In contrast, the dacitic obsidian was collected in the
volcaniclastic deposits in the northern hill. The reduced
lithic collection is coherent with records from other
Southern Cone and Patagonian early sites (i.e. Nuñez et
al., 1994)
3 Conclusions and Discussion
The PB-7 layer containing cultural and paleontological
remains in Pilauco was generated by a palustrine peat
deposition event, following the retreat of a meander of the
local ancient river. The swamp received fluvial overflows
in many occasions, which resulted in presence of isolated
gravel in the peat matrix, within a low kinetic energy
environment. This simple stratigraphy in Pilauco, as well
as the described deposition environments, is more similar
to Tagua-Tagua than Monte Verde. The faunal collection
present in Pilauco is consistent with the described millieu,
with dominance of animals associated to open
environments, presence of freshwater species and
generalist species. Extant and extinct taxa overlap.
The cultural evidence presented in this study, shows a
group of generalized foragers using energy saving and
technological strategies for the provision and production of
lithic resources.
The geomorphological context of the site opens the
possibility to use it as prospective model in central and
south Chile.
Acknowledgments
This scientific contribution was partially supported by the
project FONDECYT 1100555. Thank to all Pilauco team.
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