Small tombs on the hill: contributions to the knowledge of the early pottery period in the valley of mauro (31 degrees s) from the funebria

Abstract

MAU085 is an important settlement in the southern section of the Chilean northern semi-arid. Amongst the occupations identified at the site, an Early Ceramic component dated between 1110-740 BP stands out; this component is characterised by the use and production of pottery, structures made of quincha, consumption of wild plants and limited camelid exploitation. New excavations in the site MAU085 identified four funerary contexts, far from the domestic settlement. The burials comprise of structures composed of rocks and fractured grinding stones, bones and lithics. The four individuals buried here were infants, associated to offerings such as pottery, a necklace and a metallic ring. The analyses of these burials and its offerings suggest that the Early Ceramic communities were highly mobile and used non-local technologies.