ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´

The First South Americans by Danièle Lavallée, University of
Utah Press, $25, ISBN 0874806658

This is an unusual and enigmatic book, which offers a refreshing European
perspective on the prehistoric archaeology of South America. Bravely, for a book
aimed at a crossover academic-general readership, Danièle Lavallée
deals solely with the period between 20,000 and 3000 years ago. That’s long
before the great Pre-Columbian civilisations, so you won’t find the familiar
icons such as the Nazca lines or the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu.

Focusing on early prehistory emphasises the problems surrounding the first
peopling of the Americas. This is a minefield of personalities, conflicting
interpretations of stone tools, linguistics, blood groups, radiocarbon dates and
wishful thinking. At its heart lies the magic date of 12,000 BP (before
present). After this time, all are agreed that fluted Clovis spear-points are
evidence of human presence. Before 12,000 years ago, as The First South
Americans makes clear, evidence is sparse, ambiguous. With the exception of
the Monte Verde site in Chile, it’s also maddeningly incomplete.

So I welcome the inclusion of a concise prehistory of the east of the Andes.
From the painted caves and amethyst tools of the Amazon lowlands (between 8000
and 11,000 years ago), the shell mounds of Brazil’s Atlantic coast (5000 to 3000
years ago) and the Guanaco hunters of Tierra del Fuego (8000 to 5000 years ago),
we are given a tantalising glimpse of a vast region woefully under-described in
English.

Near Arica on the Pacific coast of Chile’s Atacama desert, for example, the
ancient fishing communities of the Chinchorro culture produced the world’s
oldest mummies. The earliest date to 7800 years ago, about 2000 years before
their nearest Egyptian counterparts. Equally intriguing is the sacred seashell,
Spondylus princeps, prized in ceremonial activities from prehistory to
Inca times. Perhaps predictably, the author sees its high profile stemming from
its role as a bio-indicator of El Niño climate change rather
than its beauty, rarity or supernatural qualities.

But this is an academic book masquerading as a popular paperback.
Nevertheless, it is packed with detail and insight, offering a provocative and
unique introduction to the prehistoric origins of South American civilisation.
Meticulously translated from the 1995 French original, however, its wordiness
and jargon are not helped by tiresome chunks of quotations. A comprehensive, but
difficult read.