Prehispanic Alpaca and Llama Production on the South Coast of Peru

9321377 Buikstra在国家科学基金会的支持下，Jane Buikstra博士、Jane Wheeler博士和合作者将研究从秘鲁南部一些遗址发现的考古骆驼遗骸。由于在干燥的沙漠环境中具有良好的保存特性，木乃伊的遗骸可以检查头发和胃的内容物，并提取DNA。这些遗址跨越了几个世纪，骆驼遗骸是在明确的文化背景下发现的，因为这些动物实际上是被故意埋葬的，而不是作为食物食用的。研究小组将进行一些专家分析，以阐明这些动物的驯化程度，澄清物种鉴定，并阐明驯养动物在史前秘鲁社会中所起的作用。包括骆驼和羊驼在内的几种骆驼在新大陆被驯化，并在该地区的史前民族中发挥了核心作用。它们既是运输的来源，也是实用服装和高价值编织品的纤维来源，也是食物。世界范围内和安第斯山脉复杂社会的兴起与家养动植物的发展密切相关。然而，由于不同物种的骆驼骨骼看起来很相似，而且很难区分家畜和野生动物，考古学家发现很难确定骆驼是何时驯化的，以及它们是如何使用的。这项拟议中的研究从不同的科学角度对木乃伊遗骸进行了研究，这将有助于回答这个问题。今天，骆驼在南美洲高原的许多地区扮演着重要的角色。对它们史前用途的了解可能有助于设计出更有效的牛群管理实践。

9321377 Buikstra With National Science Foundation support Drs. Jane Buikstra, Jane Wheeler and collaborators will study archaeological camelid remains recovered from a number of sites in Southern Peru. Because of the excellent preservation characteristic in the dry desertic environment, the mummified remains permit examination of hair and stomach contents and the extraction of DNA. The sites span several centuries and the camelid remains were recovered in clear cultural contexts since the animals were in fact purposely buried and not consumed as food. The research team will conduct a number of specialist analyses which will shed light on the degree of domestication of these animals, clarify species identifications and illuminate the role domesticates played in prehistoric Peruvian society. Several camelid species, including llama and alpaca, were domesticated in the New World and played a central role for prehistoric peoples of the region. They served as sources of transportation, of fiber for both utilitarian clothing and highly valued woven objects and as food. The rise of complex societies both worldwide and in the Andes is closely tied to the development of domestic plants and animals. Howevep because the skeletons of different camelid species look much alike and because it is difficult to separate domestic from wild animals, archaeologists have found it hard to determine when camelids were domesticated and how they were used. The proposed research which examines mummified remains from a variety of scientific perspectives will help to answer this question. Camelids play an important role in many areas of highland South America today. An understanding of their prehistoric use may help to devise more efficient herd management practices.