Abstract

During a rescue operation in the upper basin of the Loa River (northern Chile), archaeologists discovered a prehispanic burial of a newborn associated with various offerings and the partial skeletal remains of a teenager. We conducted stable isotope analysis to establish palaeodiet (delta C-13 and delta N-15) and mobility (delta O-18 and Sr-87/Sr-86). In addition, we carried out paired radiocarbon dating of bioanthropological and cultural remains in order to date the burial event and evaluate a possible marine reservoir effect. The results of these analyses suggest that (1) the individuals' diets were composed primarily of terrestrial resources, supplemented by moderate consumption of marine resources; and (2) that the individuals studied were of isotopically local origin. Radiocarbon dates showed an unexpected difference between the ages of the offerings and the human remains, likely due to the marine reservoir effect. These results shed new light on the consumption of marine foods during the Early Formative in the region. At the same time, this study is an example of the importance of carrying out paired dates of human/cultural remains on burials.