Étude géoarchéologique multiproxy de la paléo-lagune Las Salinas dans le désert de Sechura (Pérou)

Abstract

The western coast of the Sechura Desert, with its specific geographical and archaeological settings, allows a geoarchaeological study based on the crossing of excavations and geormorphological pit data. Indeed, the Las Salinas depression, which is today arid and flooded only during the major El Niño events, has a strong potential in term of socio-environmental reconstructions. The interrelations prove to be strong between pre-hispanic communities of the second half of the 1st millenium AD which practicing an important fishing and fish preparation, and the environments and ecosystems belonged to a vast palaeo-lagoon. The geoarchaeological study allows to better understand the links between the natural environments and these populations strongly dependant of it because of their activities, but also able to adapt to important environmental changes. This variability is confirmed by palaeogeographical data for the two last millennia. Indeed, the occupation of Bayovar-01 site is contemporary to a vast lagoon system feeds by wetter palaeoclimatic conditions (several El Niño events participate to these) and set since several centuries in relation to the main shore bar building. The 8th century AD turning point shows an aridification of the climate, the closing of the lagoon and its concomitant evaporation and the end of the occupation.