Sites occupied by foragers in the Upper Colca survey area were approached using site type classifications based on those used by Aldenderfer (1998: 52-75) in the Osmore drainage. These types of sites include residential bases, logistical camps, hunting blinds, and procurement locations. With very high rates of site reoccupation, discerning the Archaic occupation of any particular site was challenging, and the reoccupation and formation processes of sites strongly impact the older, Archaic component of multicomponent sites. Evaluations were based on the preliminary surface investigations in the course of a larger survey, and therefore the temporal component affiliations and site type assignments presented here should be treated as provisional. Furthermore, many of the sites identified in the Upper Colca were light surface scatters or deflated sites and therefore it is unlikely that archaeological knowledge will become significantly better concerning these sites.
|
Type |
Description |
Expectations |
|
Residential Base |
- Long term occupation or regular reoccupation by entire families. - Apparently formalized use of space with artifact distributions. - Typically associated with shelter and reliable water source. |
Diversity in raw material types and in stages of manufacture in high density reduction loci. Multiple low density lithic scatters apparent throughout site. Artifacts associated with domestic and food preparation activities. |
|
Logistical Camp |
Short term but regular reoccupation by special task groups. Spatial location puts a priority on tasks. |
Medium-Low assemblage diversity in material types but cores and range of reduction stages evident. Projectile point production failure may appear as tips and midsections in mid to late stage manufacture, and latitudinal snaps. Bases of projectile points from retooling. |
|
Hunting Blind |
Small, infrequently used or single-use area. |
Low material type diversity. Resharpening and minor retooling. |
|
Procurement and initial production |
Associated with raw material source. Frequently exposed or otherwise non-optimal camp location. |
High incidence of initial production stages with cortical material. Abandoned cores and decortication flakes. |
Table 6-17. Classifications for Archaic components of sites.
These site type classifications were not assigned in the course of field work. Rather, the classifications are a combination of subjective observations during fieldwork by experienced team members and quantitative results from field mapping and from collections and subsequent analysis. Final classifications into site types as portrayed in Table 6-17 occurred in the course of the later analysis of survey data. The environmental characteristics of these site type classifications have been evaluated using GIS data and it is possible to generalize about these site types in comparison with "average" values for each survey block.