Taima-Taima
Taima-Taima is an archaeological site located about 20 kilometers east of Santa Ana de Coro, in the Falcón State of Venezuela.[1]
History of research
The site was investigated starting in 1964 by José Cruxent (1911-2005), Alan Bryan, Rodolfo Casamiquela, Ruth Gruhn, and Claudio Ochsenius.[2]
The earliest human occupation goes back to 14,200-12,980 years ago. This indicates a pre-Clovis settlement of South America; the site is used as evidence for people arriving to South America earlier than previously believed.[3]
Cruxent discovered a mastodon pelvic bone that was pierced by a stone spearpoint. Geological and radiocarbon dating of the find both indicate the date of 13,000 BP (11,000 BC).[4][5]
Fossils of Xenorhinotherium (extinct animal similar to camel and rhinoceros), dating from the Pleistocene Epoch, have been found in Taima-Taima.[6] Other such finds were made in Brazil, and also in Venezuela in the localities of Muaco, and Cuenca del Lago.
El Jobo projectile points
At Taima-Taima, José Cruxent discovered El Jobo projectile points, which are believed to be the earliest such artefacts in South America, going back to 14,000 BP. This was a major discovery in Paleoindian archaeology.[7]
The bi-pointed El Jobo points were mostly distributed in north-western Venezuela; from the Gulf of Venezuela to the high mountains and valleys. The population using them were hunter-gatherers that seemed to remain within a certain circumscribed territory.[8][9] El Jobo points were probably used for hunting large mammals.[10]
See also
Notes
- ^ Parque Arqueológico y Paleontológico Taima-Taima (location)
- ^ «Taima-Taima», The concise Oxford dictionary of archaeology, New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
- ^ Juan Bosco Amores, «Tabla sintética de sitios arqueológicos, norte a sur», in Historia de América (animals hunted at the site)
- ^ Acerca de los hallazgos en el area de Taima-Taima y Urumaco (list of prehistoric animals at Taima-Taima).
- ^ Primer sitio de cacería de mastodontes (dating of finds)
- ^ Socorro, O.A.A. 2006. Tesoros paleontológicos de Venezuela, el Cuaternario del Estado Falcón. Taima Taima, Instituto del Patrimonio Cultural, 120 p.
- ^ José R. Oliver, Implications of Taima-taima and the Peopling of Northern South America. bradshawfoundation.com
- ^ José R. Oliver, Implications of Taima-taima and the Peopling of Northern South America. bradshawfoundation.com
- ^ Oliver, J.R., Alexander, C.S. (2003). Ocupaciones humanas del Plesitoceno terminal en el Occidente de Venezuela. Maguare, 17 83-246
- ^ Silverman, Helaine; Isbell, William (2008). Handbook of South American Archaeology. Springer Science. p. 433. ISBN 978-0-387-75228-0.
Bibliography
- Oliver, J.R., Alexander, C.S. (2003). Ocupaciones humanas del Plesitoceno terminal en el Occidente de Venezuela. Maguare, 17 83-246
External links
- José R. Oliver, Implications of Taima-taima and the Peopling of Northern South America. bradshawfoundation.com