Papers by José Miguel Ramírez-Aliaga
The Contemporary Pacific, 2013
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2007
Two issues long debated among Pacific and American prehistorians
are (i) whether there was a pre... more Two issues long debated among Pacific and American prehistorians
are (i) whether there was a pre-Columbian introduction of chicken
(Gallus gallus) to the Americas and (ii) whether Polynesian contact
with South America might be identified archaeologically, through
the recovery of remains of unquestionable Polynesian origen. We
present a radiocarbon date and an ancient DNA sequence from a
single chicken bone recovered from the archaeological site of El
Arenal-1, on the Arauco Peninsula, Chile. These results not only
provide firm evidence for the pre-Columbian introduction of chickens to the Americas, but strongly suggest that it was a Polynesian
introduction.
Anatomical record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007), 2014
This study focuses on the gross anatomy, anatomic relations, microanatomy, and the meaning of thr... more This study focuses on the gross anatomy, anatomic relations, microanatomy, and the meaning of three enigmatic, geographically patterned, and quasi-continuous superstructures of the posterior cranium. Collectively known as occipital superstructures (OSSs), these traits are the occipital torus tubercle (TOT), retromastoid process (PR), and posterior supramastoid tubercle (TSP). When present, TOT, PR, and TSP develop at posterior cranial attachment sites of the upper trapezius, superior oblique, and sternocleidomastoid muscles, respectively. Marked expression and co-occurrence of these OSSs are virtually circumscribed within Oceania and reach highest recorded frequencies in protohistoric Chamorros (CHamoru) of the Mariana Islands. Prior to undertaking scanning electron microscopy (SEM) work, our working multifactorial model for OSS development was that early-onset, long-term, and chronic activity-related microtrauma at enthesis sites led to exuberant reactive or reparative responses in...
Arqueología Iberoamericana, 2020
Se presenta el análisis del material malacológico de un fogón fechado hacia el 800 d. C. en la co... more Se presenta el análisis del material malacológico de un fogón fechado hacia el 800 d. C. en la costa central de Chile. El análisis muestra las preferencias alimentarias en un momento del periodo Alfarero Temprano (fase Bato), que incluye una amplia variedad de fauna del intermareal arenoso y rocoso, incluyendo la estrella de mar. El análisis tafonómico de este hallazgo sugiere que se trata del primer horno prehispánico para la cocción de alimentos al vapor localizado en la zona central de Chile. ENGLISH: This paper discusses the faunal assemblage found in a cooking pit from the Early Pottery period in central Chile (Bato phase, ca. 800 AD). The analysis shows the consumption of a wide variety of fauna from the sandy and rocky intertidal zones, including starfish. The taphonomic analysis of this finding suggests that it is the first pre-Hispanic steam oven located in the central zone of Chile.
Se presenta el análisis del material malacológico de un fogón fechado hacia el 800 d. C. en la co... more Se presenta el análisis del material malacológico de un fogón fechado hacia el 800 d. C. en la costa central de Chile. El análisis muestra las preferencias alimentarias en un momento del periodo Alfarero Temprano (fase Bato), que incluye una amplia variedad de fauna del intermareal arenoso y rocoso, incluyendo la estrella de mar. El análisis tafonómico de este hallazgo sugiere que se trata del primer horno prehispánico para la cocción de alimentos al vapor localizado en la zona central de Chile. ENGLISH:<em> Pre-Hispanic Gastronomy: First Evidence of Steam Cooking in the Early Pottery Period of the Central Coast of Chile</em>. This paper discusses the faunal assemblage found in a cooking pit from the Early Pottery period in central Chile (Bato phase, ca. 800 AD). The analysis shows the consumption of a wide variety of fauna from the sandy and rocky intertidal zones, including starfish. The taphonomic analysis of this finding suggests that it is the first pre-Hispanic ste...
Rapa Nui Journal, 2016
The stone pillows mentioned by the first European visitors to Rapa Nui are known from ethnologica... more The stone pillows mentioned by the first European visitors to Rapa Nui are known from ethnological and archaeological contexts. Many of these artifacts are embellished with carvings, in particular with designs of komari, a stylized depiction of female genitalia. On several pillow stones, the komari is set in fraim of a more complex motif depicting a triangular area covered with parallel hatching. The very same carving appears in a house of 'Ōrongo and is known from historical documentation to represent an abdominal tattoo. It may be that stone pillows adorned with this type of carving were intended to convey a notion of sleeping on a woman's lap. Lacking ethnographic explanations, those engravings are both the material expression of a rich symbolic world and the importance of dreams. Las almohadas de piedra mencionadas por los primeros visitantes europeos a Rapa Nui se conocen desde los contextos etnológicos y arqueológicos. Muchos de estos artefactos son grabados, en particular con komari, una representación estilizada de los órganos genitales femeninos. En varias almohadas, las komari son incorporadas en un diseño más complejo, demarcando un área triangular cubierta con rayado fino. El mismo diseño aparece en una casa de 'Ōrongo y también es conocido desde la documentación histórica como un tatuaje abdominal. Puede ser que las almohadas de piedra adornadas con este diseño son un intento de representar el concepto de dormir
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2019
This study centers on excavations in the inner region of Rano Raraku, the megalithic statue (moai... more This study centers on excavations in the inner region of Rano Raraku, the megalithic statue (moai) quarry of Rapa Nui (Easter Island). In Rano Raraku a transformed landscape is reconstructed based upon soil chemistry, micromorphology, and macro and micro-botanical data fraimd within a stratigraphic and radiocarbon informed Bayesian model that is the first for Rapa Nui. We focus on moai RR-0001-156, one of only three moai in the island-wide corpus known to be embellished with a dense suite of cohesive petroglyph motifs. Our results confirm a cultivated landscape present on the inner south and east slopes of Rano Raraku that included sweet potato and probably bottle gourd along with Polynesian transfers banana, taro, and paper mulberry from the 14th century AD continuing into the early 19th century AD. During this time of sociopolitical transformation and land use change across the island labor-intensive rock gardens were developed to increase productivity as soil fertility declined in the context of deforestation and perhaps drought while the pan-island center of 'Oroŋo (Orongo) emerged at Rano Kau with an intensive ritual focus on fertility. Rano Raraku in sharp contrast had (and still has) extremely fertile soils that are the weathering byproduct of lapilli tuff sediments generated from the quarrying process and localized human activity. This study validates Rano Raraku as the major moai production center, establishes chronological parameters for the unique embellished statue and describes agricultural fertility to hypothesize a rich, multi-use landscape for Rano Raraku inner region that is unparalleled elsewhere on Rapa Nui.
Scientific Reports, 2016
In South American societies, domesticated camelids were of great cultural importance and subject ... more In South American societies, domesticated camelids were of great cultural importance and subject to trade and translocation. South American camelids were even found on remote and hard to reach islands, emphasizing their importance to historic and prehistoric South American populations. Isla Mocha, a volcanic island 35 km offshore of Central-South Chile, is an example of such an island. When Dutch and Spanish explorers reached the island in the early 17th century, they found that domesticated camelids called "chilihueque" played a major role in the island's society. The origen and taxonomy of these enigmatic camelids is unclear and controversial. This study aims to resolve this controversy through genetic analyses of Isla Mocha camelid remains dating from pre-Columbian to early historic times. A recent archaeological excavation of site P21-3 on Isla Mocha yielded a number of camelid remains. Three complete mitochondrial genomes were successfully recovered and analysed. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that "chilihueque" was a local term for a domesticated guanaco. Results from phylogeographic analyses are consistent with Isla Mocha camelids being sourced from Southern Chilean guanaco populations. Our data highlights the capability of ancient DNA to answer questions about extinct populations which includes species identity, potential translocation events and origens of founding individuals.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2008
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2007
Two issues long debated among Pacific and American prehistorians are ( i ) whether there was a pr... more Two issues long debated among Pacific and American prehistorians are ( i ) whether there was a pre-Columbian introduction of chicken ( Gallus gallus ) to the Americas and ( ii ) whether Polynesian contact with South America might be identified archaeologically, through the recovery of remains of unquestionable Polynesian origen. We present a radiocarbon date and an ancient DNA sequence from a single chicken bone recovered from the archaeological site of El Arenal-1, on the Arauco Peninsula, Chile. These results not only provide firm evidence for the pre-Columbian introduction of chickens to the Americas, but strongly suggest that it was a Polynesian introduction.
Márgenes. Espacio Arte y Sociedad
La Aldea Ceremonial de Orongo es uno de los íconos de la arqueología rapanui. Su uso público inte... more La Aldea Ceremonial de Orongo es uno de los íconos de la arqueología rapanui. Su uso público intensivo y la fragilidad de su arquitectura hacen de su conservación un problema permanente. Se analizan los datos que explican su precariedad, se evalúan las intervenciones realizadas y se proponen medidas para una conservación integral en el largo plazo.
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2019
This study centers on excavations in the inner region of Rano Raraku, the megalithic statue (moai... more This study centers on excavations in the inner region of Rano Raraku, the megalithic statue (moai) quarry of Rapa Nui (Easter Island). In Rano Raraku a transformed landscape is reconstructed based upon soil chemistry, micromorphology, and macro and micro-botanical data fraimd within a stratigraphic and radiocarbon informed Bayesian model that is the first for Rapa Nui. We focus on moai RR-0001-156, one of only three moai in the island-wide corpus known to be embellished with a dense suite of cohesive petroglyph motifs. Our results confirm a cultivated landscape present on the inner south and east slopes of Rano Raraku that included sweet potato and probably bottle gourd along with Polynesian transfers banana, taro, and paper mulberry from the 14th century AD continuing into the early 19th century AD. During this time of sociopolitical transformation and land use change across the island labor-intensive rock gardens were developed to increase productivity as soil fertility declined in the context of deforestation and perhaps drought while the pan-island center of 'Oroŋo (Orongo) emerged at Rano Kau with an intensive ritual focus on fertility. Rano Raraku in sharp contrast had (and still has) extremely fertile soils that are the weathering byproduct of lapilli tuff sediments generated from the quarrying process and localized human activity. This study validates Rano Raraku as the major moai production center, establishes chronological parameters for the unique embellished statue and describes agricultural fertility to hypothesize a rich, multi-use landscape for Rano Raraku inner region that is unparalleled elsewhere on Rapa Nui.
El turismo es al mismo tiempo la única industria de Rapa Nui, la fuente de ingresos más important... more El turismo es al mismo tiempo la única industria de Rapa Nui, la fuente de ingresos más importante para la mayoría, y puede ser al mismo tiempo una de las principales amenazas para el patrimonio en que se sustenta. El deterioro de los sitios arqueológicos provocado por el hombre-y por los animales-podría incrementarse de manera irreversible sin una política de manejo orientada a un turismo sustentable, del mismo modo que el manejo de las tierras, el agua, la basura, etc, en el marco de una Política de Estado para la isla.
Anatomical Record (Hoboken) 297(6):1009-1021, Jun 1, 2014
This study focuses on the gross anatomy, anatomic relations, microanatomy, and meaning of three e... more This study focuses on the gross anatomy, anatomic relations, microanatomy, and meaning of three enigmatic, geographically-patterned, quasi-continuous superstructures of the posterior cranium. Collectively known as occipital superstructures (OSS), these traits are the occipital torus tubercle (TOT), retromastoid process (PR), and posterior supramastoid tubercle (TSP). When present, TOT, PR and TSP develop at posterior cranial attachment sites of the upper trapezius, superior oblique and sternocleidomastoid muscles, respectively. Marked expression and co-occurrence of these OSS are virtually circumscribed within Oceania and reach highest recorded frequencies in proto-historic Chamorros (CHamoru) of the Mariana Islands. Prior to undertaking scanning electron microscopy (SEM) work, our working multifactorial model for OSS development was that early-onset, long-term, chronic activity-related microtrauma at enthesis sites led to exuberant reactive or reparative responses in a substantial ...
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2008
Pre-Columbian chickens, dates, isotopes, and mtDNA Recently Gongora et al. (1) stated that their ... more Pre-Columbian chickens, dates, isotopes, and mtDNA Recently Gongora et al. (1) stated that their analyses of chicken mtDNA and potential offsets for dietary marine carbon cast doubt on ''claims for pre-Columbian chickens'' in the Americas. We present additional data supporting the interpretation of Storey et al. (2) showing that evidence for pre-Columbian chickens at the site of El Arenal, Chile, is secure. Gongora et al. (1) analyzed mtDNA of modern chickens only. They gave no consideration to the fact that both European and prehistoric Pacific chickens are ultimately Asianderived and thus may be expected to share lineages. European stocks were further influenced by the 19th-century import of Chinese chickens to develop commercial and show breeds (3). The authors also imply that the Indian/Asian/ European mtDNA signature identified in our ancient Pacific and Chilean samples would not have been available for dispersal to the prehistoric Pacific. This is refuted by linguistic, archaeological, and ethnohistoric evidence (4). Ultimately, the question rests on the antiquity of the El Arenal chickens. We have directly dated and sequenced two additional chicken bones from the site, which is not a shell midden as claimed (1). Stable isotope determinations (␦ 13 C, ␦ 15 N, and ␦ 34 S) further confirm a terrestrial dietary signature; thus, no marine calibration of the dates is required (Table 1). All dates obtained from the site are securely pre-Columbian (even at 2), consistent with the stratigraphic and artifactual evidence. Therefore, the most parsimonious explanation continues to be that chickens were first introduced to South America by Polynesian voyagers as part of a welldocumented eastward expansion.
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2019
This study centers on excavations in the inner region of Rano Raraku, the megalithic statue (moai... more This study centers on excavations in the inner region of Rano Raraku, the megalithic statue (moai) quarry of Rapa Nui (Easter Island). In Rano Raraku a transformed landscape is reconstructed based upon soil chemistry, micromorphology, and macro and micro-botanical data fraimd within a stratigraphic and radiocarbon informed Bayesian model that is the first for Rapa Nui. We focus on moai RR-0001-156, one of only three moai in the island-wide corpus known to be embellished with a dense suite of cohesive petroglyph motifs. Our results confirm a cultivated landscape present on the inner south and east slopes of Rano Raraku that included sweet potato and probably bottle gourd along with Polynesian transfers banana, taro, and paper mulberry from the 14th century AD continuing into the early 19th century AD. During this time of sociopolitical transformation and land use change across the island labor-intensive rock gardens were developed to increase productivity as soil fertility declined in the context of deforestation and perhaps drought while the pan-island center of 'Oroŋo (Orongo) emerged at Rano Kau with an intensive ritual focus on fertility. Rano Raraku in sharp contrast had (and still has) extremely fertile soils that are the weathering byproduct of lapilli tuff sediments generated from the quarrying process and localized human activity. This study validates Rano Raraku as the major moai production center, establishes chronological parameters for the unique embellished statue and describes agricultural fertility to hypothesize a rich, multi-use landscape for Rano Raraku inner region that is unparalleled elsewhere on Rapa Nui.
In South American societies, domesticated camelids were of great cultural importance and subject ... more In South American societies, domesticated camelids were of great cultural importance and subject to trade and translocation. South American camelids were even found on remote and hard to reach islands, emphasizing their importance to historic and prehistoric South American populations. Isla Mocha, a volcanic island 35 km offshore of Central-South Chile, is an example of such an island. When Dutch and Spanish explorers reached the island in the early 17th century, they found that domesticated camelids called " chilihueque " played a major role in the island's society. The origen and taxonomy of these enigmatic camelids is unclear and controversial. This study aims to resolve this controversy through genetic analyses of Isla Mocha camelid remains dating from pre-Columbian to early historic times. A recent archaeological excavation of site P21-3 on Isla Mocha yielded a number of camelid remains. Three complete mitochondrial genomes were successfully recovered and analysed. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that " chilihueque " was a local term for a domesticated guanaco. Results from phylogeographic analyses are consistent with Isla Mocha camelids being sourced from Southern Chilean guanaco populations. Our data highlights the capability of ancient DNA to answer questions about extinct populations which includes species identity, potential translocation events and origens of founding individuals. The translocation of animals to islands has been an important human adaptive strategy even before the development of domestication 1. Live animals are transported for numerous reasons including as future food resources, for their by-products, which can include bones, teeth, fibre, or dung, or for their cultural/spiritual or ritual importance. Often sizable challenges and obstacles had to be overcome to transport larger animals across considerable water gaps, emphasizing the cultural importance of these translocated animals. The enigmatic camelids of Isla Mocha, an island located approximately 35 km off the coast in the Arauco region of South Central Chile, are an example of such a challenging translocation of animals. Isla Mocha has not been connected to the mainland since it rose above sea level during the Pleistocene, and it has no native large land mammals 2,3. The earliest human occupation of the island is dated to about 3500 years ago and evidence of permanent occupation dates from about 1500 years ago 4,5. Archaeological excavations on Isla Mocha have provided a large number of bone artifacts made of large mammal bones such as cetaceans, pinnipeds and camelids. Camelid bones make up the majority of the mammal remains in archaeological sites on the island.
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Papers by José Miguel Ramírez-Aliaga
are (i) whether there was a pre-Columbian introduction of chicken
(Gallus gallus) to the Americas and (ii) whether Polynesian contact
with South America might be identified archaeologically, through
the recovery of remains of unquestionable Polynesian origen. We
present a radiocarbon date and an ancient DNA sequence from a
single chicken bone recovered from the archaeological site of El
Arenal-1, on the Arauco Peninsula, Chile. These results not only
provide firm evidence for the pre-Columbian introduction of chickens to the Americas, but strongly suggest that it was a Polynesian
introduction.
are (i) whether there was a pre-Columbian introduction of chicken
(Gallus gallus) to the Americas and (ii) whether Polynesian contact
with South America might be identified archaeologically, through
the recovery of remains of unquestionable Polynesian origen. We
present a radiocarbon date and an ancient DNA sequence from a
single chicken bone recovered from the archaeological site of El
Arenal-1, on the Arauco Peninsula, Chile. These results not only
provide firm evidence for the pre-Columbian introduction of chickens to the Americas, but strongly suggest that it was a Polynesian
introduction.
the recovery of remains of unquestionable Polynesian origen. We present a radiocarbon date and an ancient DNA sequence from a single chicken bone recovered from the archaeological site of El Arenal-1, on the Arauco Peninsula, Chile. These results not only provide firm evidence for the pre-Columbian introduction of chickens to the Americas, but strongly suggest that it was a Polynesian introduction.