What is New about the Early Peopling of Central and South America?

ABSTRACT

This special issue gathers some of the presentations that were part of different sessions of the 9th Simposio Internacional “El Hombre Temprano en América” (SIHTA), which took place during November 2018 in the city of Necochea, Argentina. These interesting researches deal with several issues including gender and social life, new early sites, early lithic technology, taphonomy, and reconstructions of paleoenvironments and spatial patterns. This Perspectives essay is a brief introduction to the papers that make up this special issue.

KEYWORDS:

• 9 Simposio Internacional Hombre Temprano en América
• early human occupations
• Central and South America

Acknowledgements

The 9th SIHTA counted on a local and a Mexican organizing committee, and it was funded by Argentine agencies (CONICET, FONCYT, and CIC). The Center for the Study of the First Americans funded the archaeological exhibition at the museum in Necochea. Also, we recognize the important support of the local city council and the local library. Finally, the participants of the Local Committee were the basis for a successful meeting. We are thankful to them all.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on Contributors

Natalia Mazzia is an assistant research fellow for the National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET). Dr Mazzia obtained her PhD at La Plata University (2011), writing a thesis on hunter-gatherers’ places and landscapes in the Pampas of Buenos Aires. She specializes in landscape archaeology and chemical analysis of lithic artifacts.

Celeste Weitzel is an assistant research fellow for the National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET). She received her PhD at the University of Buenos Aires (2010). Her main research interests are lithic taphonomy and technology, and her research focuses on breakage of lithic artifacts and how this informs on past activities, social practices, and decision-making, as well as taphonomic processes.

Nora Flegenheimer is a senior research fellow for the National Research Council, Argentina (CONICET). She obtained her degree at La Plata National University (1978), Argentina, where she specialized in lithic analysis. She has excavated sites related to the early peopling of the Pampas and built the regional lithic-resource base. She has developed an interest in public archaeology in her Pampean home town.