Aproximación a las estrategias de subsistencia y a la paleodieta en el piso montano bajo del Valle Central de Costa Rica durante la fase Pavas (300 A.C.-300 D.C.): el caso del sitio Alvarado (UCR-171)
Fecha
2023
Tipo
tesis de maestría
Autores
Azofeifa López, Anthony
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Resumen
La presente tesis tiene como objetivo principal explorar las estrategias de subsistencia de los pueblos precolombinos que habitaban en Costa Rica durante la Fase Pavas (300 a.C.-300 d.C.), específicamente en las faldas del Volcán Irazú en la provincia de Cartago. El enfoque se centra en las dinámicas interactivas entre las personas y su entorno, con el fin de comprender las actividades cotidianas, el aprovechamiento de recursos botánicos y ampliar el conocimiento sobre las sociedades que habitaban el Valle Central durante esta fase histórica. El sitio arqueológico Alvarado (C-391 Ao), ubicado en el distrito de Llano Grande en el piso altitudinal Montano Bajo, se seleccionó como estudio de caso. Este sitio fue excavado previamente en 1976, y se utilizó la colección artefactual generada en esa excavación como punto de partida para esta investigación. Además, se realizaron nuevos sondeos en el sitio para obtener más evidencia que contribuyera al logro de los objetivos propuestos.
Para alcanzar dichos objetivos, se llevaron a cabo análisis de diversas líneas de evidencia, incluyendo el material cerámico y lítico, análisis de macrorestos botánicos (principalmente carbón), análisis de enriquecimiento químico del suelo (elementos químicos en general y residuos orgánicos de actividad humana), y análisis de microrestos botánicos (fitolitos y almidones).
La integración de los datos obtenidos permitió inferir la existencia de actividades diferenciadas en los dos sectores definidos en el sitio. El Sector I albergaba las unidades domésticas, mientras que en el Sector II se identificaron zonas de cultivo, retoque de herramientas, procesamiento de materiales y áreas de consumo de alimentos. Se pudo determinar que se utilizaba la técnica de tumba, roza y quema para practicar la vegecultura, principalmente de cultivos como Ipomoae batatas y Dioscorea sp., complementados con la semicultura de Zea mays y Phaseolus vulgaris, y el aprovechamiento de recursos de árboles introducidos como Annonaceae y Burseraceae.
Las estrategias de subsistencia identificadas en Alvarado presentan similitudes con las propuestas para otros sitios de la Fase Pavas, como el cultivo de maíz, frijoles y tubérculos en general. Sin embargo, destaca la ausencia de cultivos como las cucurbitáceas y Manihot esculenta. Además, se fortalece la interpretación de que el cultivo de tubérculos desempeñó un papel importante en las prácticas alimenticias de los pueblos precolombinos de Costa Rica. Por otro lado, si bien se confirma la relativa importancia del maíz, los datos no permiten afirmar que fuera el grano básico de esta comunidad.
In 1976, Alvarado archaeological site (C-391 Ao), situated in Llano Grande district on the lower montane floor, was excavated, recovering an assemblage of artifacts that serves as starting point for this investigation. This research aims to thoroughly examine the subsistence strategies employed by pre-Columbian inhabitants of Costa Rica during the Pavas Phase (300 BCE-300 CE), speciphycally within the environs slopes of the Irazu volcano in the Cartago province. Additional excavations were conducted in 2020 by the author In order to fulfill the designated objectives, a multitude of analyses were undertaken. These encompassed an examination of ceramics, lithic, as well as the study of macro and microbotanical remains (including charcoal, phytoliths, and starch granules). Additionally, chemical soil enrichment was employed as a methodological approach. Through a comprehensive integration of these diverse datasets, it becomes feasible to extrapolate and infer distinct activities that transpired within the two delineated sectors of the site. Sector I was designated as the residential zone, while Sector II encompassed areas for cultivation, the retouching of lithic tools, the processing of assorted materials, and zones earmarked for food consumption. The collected data yields insights into the agricultural practices of the pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Alvarado site, indicating their utilization of a slash-and-burn agricultural system, primarily focused on the cultivation of root crops and seed crops. Among the cultivated plants were Ipomoeae batatas, Dioscorea sp, Zea mays, Phaseolus vulgaris, as well as certain tree species like Annonaceae and Burseraceae, which were also incorporated into their subsistence strategies. The identified subsistence strategies at the Alvarado site closely parallel those proposed for the broader Archaeological Central Region during the Pavas Phase, such as the cultivation of maize and beans, along with the utilization of tubers. However, it is noteworthy that no evidence was found pertaining to the cultivation of Sechium and Manihot esculenta at the site.
In 1976, Alvarado archaeological site (C-391 Ao), situated in Llano Grande district on the lower montane floor, was excavated, recovering an assemblage of artifacts that serves as starting point for this investigation. This research aims to thoroughly examine the subsistence strategies employed by pre-Columbian inhabitants of Costa Rica during the Pavas Phase (300 BCE-300 CE), speciphycally within the environs slopes of the Irazu volcano in the Cartago province. Additional excavations were conducted in 2020 by the author In order to fulfill the designated objectives, a multitude of analyses were undertaken. These encompassed an examination of ceramics, lithic, as well as the study of macro and microbotanical remains (including charcoal, phytoliths, and starch granules). Additionally, chemical soil enrichment was employed as a methodological approach. Through a comprehensive integration of these diverse datasets, it becomes feasible to extrapolate and infer distinct activities that transpired within the two delineated sectors of the site. Sector I was designated as the residential zone, while Sector II encompassed areas for cultivation, the retouching of lithic tools, the processing of assorted materials, and zones earmarked for food consumption. The collected data yields insights into the agricultural practices of the pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Alvarado site, indicating their utilization of a slash-and-burn agricultural system, primarily focused on the cultivation of root crops and seed crops. Among the cultivated plants were Ipomoeae batatas, Dioscorea sp, Zea mays, Phaseolus vulgaris, as well as certain tree species like Annonaceae and Burseraceae, which were also incorporated into their subsistence strategies. The identified subsistence strategies at the Alvarado site closely parallel those proposed for the broader Archaeological Central Region during the Pavas Phase, such as the cultivation of maize and beans, along with the utilization of tubers. However, it is noteworthy that no evidence was found pertaining to the cultivation of Sechium and Manihot esculenta at the site.
Descripción
Palabras clave
ARQUEOLOGÍA, COSTA RICA, SUBSISTENCIA, VALLE CENTRAL, ESTRATEGIA DE DESARROLLO