Diet During the Late Initial Period (1100–800 BC) in the Chavín Heartland: New Data from Canchas Uckro (North-Central Peru)

During the late Initial Period (c. 1100-800 BC), Conchucos region of highland Peru witnessed formation ceremonial and “proto-urban” center Chavín de Huántar 1000-500/400 BC). An important question regarding centers on nature its subsistence economy during time when it was first founded. In this paper, we present new results from zooarchaeological, starch granule, stable isotope (δ 13 C δ 15 N) analyses to reconstruct diet Canchas Uckro, a settlement located in Huántar's heartland region. Founded c. 1100 BC abandoned just after 800 BC, Uckro provides insight into socioeconomic processes early phases Huántar. Extant faunal remains suggest deer comprised an component diet, while camelids constitute minor proportion assemblage. Starch granules recovered pottery indicate that domesticated cultigens (maize, potato, manioc) were obtained different production zones. N analysis sample human skeletal remains, coupled with Stable Isotope Analysis R (SIAR) mixing models, demonstrate 3 plants most maize not intensively consumed. further made up 25-50% diet. The study add gro wing corpus data practices north-central northern highlands prior widespread adoption camelids.