Dwelling in the Andean sky: Lithic technology at Cuncaicha rockshelter during the Terminal Pleistocene

Cuncaicha rockshelter in southern Peru is the highest known Terminal Pleistocene occupation in the Americas. Well-dated and rich in archaeological materials, the site offers a unique opportunity to understand early hunter-gatherer behavior in the Central Andean region. We conduct technological analyses and an initial assessment of use wear on a sample of the Terminal Pleistocene lithic assemblage to understand tool manufacturing decisions, curation, disposal, as well as activities and site function at Cuncaicha. Raw materials, including obsidian and other extrusive igneous and siliceous rocks, are overwhelmingly local. The characteristics of the retouched tools and flakes indicate that Cuncaicha was not an ephemeral site, but an important place, located near an Andean landmark, where multiple activities, including manufacturing, diversified use of various tools, recycling, and discard, were carried out. This analysis reinforces the interpretation that Cuncaicha served as a residential base camp as early as ∼12 ka. The site likely functioned as an important node in a broader system of highland mobility during the initial peopling of the continent.