The Russian Archaeological Project in South America: Principal Findings and Prospects
https://doi.org/10.17746/1563-0110.2023.51.4.055-064
Abstract
This study outlines the findings of field and laboratory studies by the first Russian archaeological expedition to South America in 2014–2015 and 2017–2018 in collaboration with colleagues from Ecuador and Japan. The project focused on sites of the Archaic (10.8–6.6 ka BP) and Early Formative period (5.5–3.5 ka BP) in the coastal zone of Santa Elena Province, Ecuador. Excavations at Real Alto (Valdivia culture) and Loma Alto (Las Vegas culture) yielded representative archaeological, anthropological, and faunal samples and a large series of AMS dates, providing a basis for a number of novel proposals regarding the chronology and periodization of cultures, their origin, and early pottery-production in South America. Specifically, we have demonstrated that at the very beginning of the Formative period, two early ceramic traditions coexisted—Valdivia and “San Pedro”. We have demonstrated the peculiarity of the “Tropical package” in the stone toolkit, and traced the previously unknown features of the funerary rites of the Las Vegas and Valdivia cultures. Radiocarbon analysis helped to correct the chronology of the late stage of the pre-ceramic Las Vegas culture (8.0–4.8 ka BP) and to estimate the tentative date of the earliest pottery manufacture at 4.8–4.7 ka BP. In conclusion, we outline the top priorities and prospects of Russian archaeological studies on the Pacific coast of South America, underscoring the importance of international cooperation.
Supporting agencies: This study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, Project No. 22-28-00059. We thank Professor J.G. Marcos for his long-term and multidimensional cooperation (Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Guayaquil), Dr. R. Lunniss (Technical University of Manabi, Portoviejo), Prof. Y. Kanomata (Tohoku University, Sendai), and Prof. E. Neves (University of São Paulo), as well as all Russian and Ecuadorian participants of expeditions of 2014–2015 and 2017–2018. We express especial gratitude to the residents of the Pechiche commune (Santa Elena Province, Ecuador).
About the Authors
A. N. Popov
Educational and Scientific Museum, Far Eastern Federal University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Director, Educational and Scientific Museum, Far Eastern Federal University.
Okeansky pr. 37, Vladivostok, 690091
A. V. Tabarev
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Leading Researcher, Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences.
Akademika Lavrentieva pr. 17, Novosibirsk, 630090
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For citations:
Popov A.N., Tabarev A.V. The Russian Archaeological Project in South America: Principal Findings and Prospects. Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia. 2023;51(4):55-64. https://doi.org/10.17746/1563-0110.2023.51.4.055-064
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