The Proto-Lauricocha Phase Of The Central Andes And The Origin Of Andean Foliated Point Tradition

Abstract

This paper discusses early evidence for the Andean Foliated Point Tradition (TAPF in Spanish), with special emphasis on theCentral Andes region and the Lauricocha complex, which are included into the so-called ‘Proto-Lauricocha’ phase (Salcedo 2006).This phase is characterized by the indiscriminate consumption of animal species prior to food production, and the presence of foliated projectile points featuring centripetal retouch and minute ailerons located at one-third of the maximum longitude of thepiece, defi ning in that way a pseudo-peduncle. The cultural phase has been dated by the radiocarbon method in the 10,500-7400 years cal BC interval, employing the dendrochronological calibration with the support of the OxCal v3.10r program (Bronk-Ramsey 2005) and the current calibration curves (Reimer et al. 2004; Reimer et al. 2009). Comparative evidence found in North America and Japan is used to discuss the probable origin of TAPF.