Domesticando El Desierto: Medio Ambiente Y Ocupaciones Humanas En RAMADITAS, DESIERTO DE ATACAMA
Rivera, M.A.; Dodd, J.P.
Diálogo andino 2013(41): 45-60
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 0719-2681 DOI: 10.4067/s0719-26812013000100004
Accession: 066156963
The archaeological site of Ramaditas has a meaning that goes beyond its historic-social and environmental value. settled in the world driest and perhaps oldest desert, the Atacama Desert, the site is challenge to current understanding of what water means as a resource for human sustainability any where in the world. under these conditions, it is difficult to explain how prehispanic society was able to settle and prosper in such hard environment. previous research, especially in Guatacondo and Tarapaca regions, demonstrates that these societies have been extremely productive in past times. The fact that these groups were able to develop themselves in such hard environments maintaining higher demographic levels than todays demand an explanation. The archaeological area of Ramaditas contains important architectonic compounds grouped in two main villages, extended relicts ofagriculturalfields including artesian wells, reservoirs, and complex networks ofcanal irrigation. The area is important bothfrom a climatologically view point as well as archaeologically because the assemblage indicates people were practicing full agriculture 2500 ago. In this paper I provide new data in relation to paleoenviroment of the area steaming from dendrochronology research that favors a macrophysics' paleoclimatic model based on precipitation data from the surrounding highlands and its subsequent water runoff towards Pampa Tamarugal.