This is the english language text of the article "La ocupacion Chinchorro en Villa del Mar, Ilo, Peru" by Karen Wise, published in the Peruvian journal Gaceta Arqueologica Andina 24:135-149. 1995. Please cite as Wise, Karen 1995 La ocupacion Chinchorro en Villa del Mar, Ilo, Peru. Gaceta Arqueologica Andina 24:135-149.

The Chinchorro tradition of mortuary practices has been under study for nearly a century. It is only recently, however, that systematic excavations and analysis, including C-14 dating of mummies and tomb contexts are providing solid data on the extent and the range of the Chinchorro tradition. The recently published research from the Acha-2 site near Arica (Aufterheide, et al. 1993; Mu–oz, et al. 1993) pushes the probable beginnings of the Chinchorro tradition back to nearly 9000 years ago. The latest dates for Chinchorro style mummies are around 3500 B.P. (Allison, et al. 1984). The geographic range of Chinchorro style mortuary practices is the south-central Andes. Chinchorro remains are known from as far south as Antofagasta, and at least as far north as Ilo, Peru (Figure 1). Recent summaries by GuillŽn (GuillŽn 1992) and by Arriaza (1993) have done much to clarify the sequence and range of mortuary practices encompassed by Chinchorro. Excavations at the sites at the base the El Morro in Arica continue to provide extraordinarily rich data on Chinchorro cemeteries (Allison, et al. 1984; Focacci and Chacon 1989; GuillŽn 1992). Few Archaic Period Chinchorro habitation sites have been excavated systematically, however, and Camarones-14 (Schiappacasse and Niemeyer 1984) remains the best studied and published of these, with the recently published work at Acha-2 (Mu–oz, et al. 1993) providing some extremely important data on the early evidence for Chinchorro adaptation and settlement. Chinchorro: What is it?

Chinchorro has been referred to as a cultural complex (e.g. Bittman 1982), a cultural tradition (e.g. Rivera 1991), as well as a cultural stage (Nu–ez 1983) with implied but rarely explicit discussions of the relationship between Chinchorro mortuary practices and Archaic period coastal adaptations as studied at sites which have not yielded mortuary remains. Most often, the term Chinchorro is used to refer to the remarkable mummies that begin to appear in the Arica area 8000 or more years ago.

There are some data on Chinchorro settlement patterns. Lautaro Nu–ez (1969) described Chinchorro settlement as being focused in river valleys. Sites such as Camarones-14 (Sciappacasse and Niemeyer 1984) and Acha-2 (Mu–oz et al. 1993), which contain domestic, midden, and mortuary components, seem to confirm this statement, as does the discovery of a Chinchorro habitation and mortuary site at Villa del Mar, near the mouth of the Ilo River.

Chinchorro burial practices are better understood than settlement, particularly through studies of mummies (e.g Allison et al 1984; GuillŽn 1992). Chinchorro burial practices range from simple wrapping and covering to elaborate artificial mummification characterised by evisceration of the body, replacement of organs and bones with vegetal and other materials, replacement of the skin, and covering with clay (Allison, et al. 1984; Bittmann 1982). Chinchorro mortuary practices include a wide range of treatment, but Chinchorro is distinguished from other local prehistoric burial practices in that bodies are usually placed in an extended position (in some cases slightly flexed). This contrasts with other Preceramic Period burial practices, which are characterized by tightly flexed burials (e.g. Bird 1943; Dauelsberg 1974), or placing the body in a seated position as is characteristic of later periods. Chinchorro burials tend to be found in cemeteries, often in collective graves.

Chinchorro cemeteries have been reported from the coast of northern Chile between just south of Iquique, and Arica (Allison, et al. 1984; Bittmann 1982; Vera 1981). They date between approximately 8000 B.P. and 3500 B.P, and they exhibit substantial variation in treatment. Three basic types of Chinchorro burials were distinguished by Uhle (1922), and although these types have been modified and split by others, they remain in general use (see Allison et al. 1984; Arriaza 1993; GuillŽn 1992). The types are are simple treatment, or "natural mummification" (Type I),"complicated treatment" (Type II), and a variation on simple treatment that includes the use of clay to cover the body (Type III).

Although mummies are most often identified with the term Chinchorro, non-mummified Chinchorro human remains are often found alongside mummies, and where preservation is not as good as it is in Arica area, Chinchorro human remains may be found in the forms of skeletons. Chinchorro in Ilo

Ilo has appeared in several published maps showing the geographic extent of the Chinchorro complex (e.g. Alvarez 1969; Allison et al 1984). The source of the statement that Chinchorro burials are found in Ilo seems to be Alavarez' 1969 paper on Playa Miller 8 (Alvarez 1969). In this article, Alvarez states "..se han ubicado este tipo de momias en la desembocadura del r’o Moquegua, en Ilo, Perœ y son descritas por Gosta Mondel (sic) en su obra Antiguas vestimentas en el Perœ." (Alvarez 1969:181). Although I have found a version of Montell's work in English (Montell 1929), I could find no references to mummies from Ilo in the discussion of Uhles' (1918; 1922) and Skottsberg's (1924) work on mummies from Arica.

This is not to say that there are no Chinchorro mummies in Ilo. Chinchorro remains have been found at the mouth of the Moquegua or Ilo River, and probably elsewhere as well. The discovery and excavation of the site of Villa del Mar (Figure 2), provides important new data on the Chinchorro adaptation to the Ilo area. This site is important not only because it demonstrates the presence of Chinchorro in Ilo, but also because it provides important new data that confirms the little that is known about Chinchorro subsistence and settlement during the Middle Archaic Period. Also, although Villa del Mar lacks the preservation seen at sites in northern Chile and particularly in Arica, the work we have done at Villa del Mar demonstrates that a great deal can be learned through systematic excavations of Chinchorro settlements. Villa del Mar

In 1986, a Chinchorro site was found near the mouth of the Moquegua River, in the Villa del Mar urbanization of Ilo, Peru. The site was identified during construction of a school, when human bone and other cultural materials were found. This area, as might be expected for the mouth of the river, was once covered with archaeological remains, and modern construction almost never fails to come across burials, pots, and other evidence of prehistoric human occupation. Archaeologists were called and rescue excavations were conducted there during the course of several weeks by Luis Watanabe, Elba Torres, and others (Torres, et al. 1990a; 1990b), mostly in the areas that were being impacted by construction of the water line and of the school building.

Watanabe dug in the yard in front of the school, where construction of the water line was being completed. Although he never published his findings, he told me (Watanabe, personal communication 1989) that in the profile of the trenches he found evidence of at least one house floor and what he believed were post-molds. He stated that the house floor was circular with a ring of posts around the outside. He also told me that there was evidence of some midden.

In the area where the school building itself was being built, a double burial was found. Elva Torres, Niki Clark, Chris Clement, and Juan Carlos Tello excavated this tomb, which contained the nearly intact skeletons of two individuals (Torres, et al. 1990a; 1990b), one of which was wrapped in cotton textiles. The cotton textiles suggest that they are not from before about 4000 years ago.

This find was considered important in itself, since few other Preceramic Period burials had been excavated by archaeologists in the Ilo area. It was not possible, however, to return to the site during the subsequent years and the work was published without additional studies being conducted (Torres, et al. 1990a; 1990b).

During 1989 and 1990, portions of the site were further disturbed by construction, and the site surface was almost completely scraped off before archaeologists were notified (Figure 3). Test excavations demonstrated that significant portions of the site remained intact, however. A series of one-by-one units placed across the site in 1990 located two burials, and several areas with intact midden. The site was mapped and tested during 1990, and more extensive excavations in 1991 & 1992 exposed a series of domestic features and midden, as well as four additional burials. Although we have not been able to investigate the entire site, the research conducted to date at the section of the site that lies within the school grounds provides important new data on the Chinchorro occupation of the Ilo area (Wise 1991).

The site is located approximately 100 meters from the beach on a low terrace several hundred meters south of the current river mouth, in an area containing several rock outcrops that form significant natural vertical features that might have served a site or cemetery markers (Figure 3). It is impossible at present to estimate the whole size or extent of the site, since we were only able to work within the confines of the school grounds (Figure 4). The school is bounded by two large properties and by roads. Within the school grounds, intact deposits were found on the higher portions of the grounds, including a house floor, a midden area, and a cemetery area. It seems probable that the site extends into the adjacent grounds owned by the Peruvian Social Security Institution (IPSS). These grounds remain undeveloped and fenced off, but I have not been able to get permission to test there yet and it is impossible to determine from the surface whether the site continues into those grounds. Domestic, Midden, and Mortuary areas of Villa del Mar

Horizontal and vertical excavations were conducted in the upper portions of the school yard, focusing on the eastern corner of the grounds, where testing in 1990 identified areas of intact deposits. Intact deposits of between 25 and 70 centimeters overlie an uneven surface of fossilized shell or coquina. The deposits are stratified and the midden area is characterized by multiple small features and stains.

The remains of a single house floor, was excavated during the 1991 field season (Figure 5). This feature was characterized by a hard packed, variable surface with considerable burning on the surface, and the remains of a central firepit containing dense concentrations of carbon, burned bone, and ash. Two radiocarbon dates were obtained from this feature: 7800±110 (Beta-52799; wood charcoal) from the bottom of the pit, and 6280±60 (Beta-52800; wood charcoal) from the top of the feature.

Preliminary analysis of subsistence remains and artifacts from the site indicate a pattern of coastal occupation and subsistence, characterized by the use of locally available lithic raw materials for the manufacture of stone tools, a high level of dependence on ocean fish, and use of local plants, including several plants which are found in the lomas today, but which are not now known from the river valley (Lennstrom 1993). The Burials

The burials excavated at Villa del Mar to date include a total of 10 individuals from seven distinct tombs (Table 1). Five of the tombs were found in what I suggest is a cemetery area (Figure 6), while two of them were found outside this area. The 1986 tomb, which appears to be much later than the others, was found well away from the others, while the other grave was found near the house floor. Description of the Burials

Tomb 1, excavated in 1986, has been described in print by the excavators (Torres, et al. 1990a; Torres, et al. 1990b). This burial was found in the area where the school building sits today. It was a long shallow grave containing the remains of two individuals buried in roughly extended position (Figure 7). One was a female 17-20 years of age lying on her side, while the second was a 12-14 year old that the excavators believed to be male. The second individual was wrapped in two pieces of cotton fabric and was associated with number of artifacts, including 33 shell beads, a basalt bead, and a harpoon shaft with cotton cords attached to it. Both individuals were described as exhibiting cranial deformation of they tabular erect type (Torres et al 1990b), which has been identified for Late Preceramic Period individuals from northern Chile as well (Rivera, et al. 1974). The younger individual had cords around his head which the excavators suggested was the remains of a device for cranial deformation. The textiles found included a roughly woven estera of the type found in virtually all Chinchorro and Quiani style Preceramic Period burials on the south-central Andean coast, while the second was finer piece made of cotton, wool, and human hair. Tomb 2 (1990-1) was a shallow oblong pit feature found 45 cm below the present surface or the site. It contained the partial skeletal remains of a six month old infant. The skeletal remains were covered with vegetal material, probably what had once been estera but was now too badly disintegrated to identify. The body was lying partially flexed on it's left side, back to the north, head to the east, knees to the west (Figure 8). The head was covered partially with the remains of a clay mask consisting of a piece of shell place directly on top of the face and covered with a thick layer of clay. The clay showed the faintest remnant of red pigment, and the remains of a piece of twine was found across the top of the clay. A group of 19 small shell beads were found in the area of one hand, which had been placed in the pelvic region. The beads may be from a land snail (Figure 9).

Tomb 3 (1990-2) contained a triple burial, including an adult female (approximately 45 years old), a child about 5 years old, and an infant between 6 and 9 months old. All three were buried in an extended position, wrapped in a large estera mat (Figure 10). Traces of the disintegrating mat were found on top of the human remains, and it was more intact although extremely fragile underneath the individuals. Individuals 3 and 4 were lying on their backs, while individual 2 was lying up against the side of the pit, tilted slightly onto its left side.

The skeletons were clearly buried together. Individual 3 (the adult) seems to have been placed in the pit first. Individual 4 (the infant) was lying on top of Individual 3's left arm and ribs, and Individual 2 (the child) was on top of its lower arm and hand. The right arm of Individual 2 may have been under the infants feet.

Individual 2 was lying in an extended position, lying against the south side of the burial pit, with it's head facing north. The left arm was up against the south side of the burial pit. Some finger bones were found nearly under the pelvis, and the arm lay under the left femur of Individual 3. The bones of both the femur of Individual 3 and the arm of Individual 2 were heavily broken.

Individual 3 was lying in an extended position, with its head facing north. The remains of a long narrow textile were found just above the pelvis region on the north side of the body (the right side).

Individual four is a 6 to 9 month old infant that was apparently the last individual placed in the pit. It was lying extended, apparently with its head facing south. The skull caved in or was crushed some time after burial, so it is rather difficult to determine the exact original position of the head. Individuals two and three had their feet in a similar position, with the left foot covering the right one.

Tomb #4 (1991-1) was found very close to the present surface of the site, and had apparently been badly crushed by heavy machinery during the scraping of the site surface. It was a female skeleton, that Shelly Burgess ages are roughly 45+ years based on tooth ware. She notes, however, that since tooth ware has suggested an older age for Villa del mar skeletons than other indicators, we should be somewhat cautious about this estimate. The state of the skeleton makes it difficult to say more, but the body had clearly been placed in an extended position, with the head to the NE and the feet to the SW.

Tomb #5 (1991-2), contains the remains of an apparent adult male. The skeleton was oriented E-W, with head to the east and feet to the west. The bones were highly broken up, but were roughly in position, except for the distal ends of the tibia and fibula, and the feet, which were largely crushed and hard to define.

The body had been laid in an extended position, with hands over the pelvis, and feet probably overlying one another (as suggested by the position of the lower legs). The body had been wrapped in a feathered cloak, the remains of which were noted at the neck and shoulder, in the vicinity of the arms, and on the ribs. We found only tiny traces of the feathered material on the lower body.

A bone sample from the left femur of this skeleton yeilded an uncorrected radiocarbon date (C13 adjusted) of 6360 ± 60 B.P (Beta-71133, human bone). Of 30 published radiocarbon dates from Chinchorro mummies, tombs, or skeletons, this is the 6th oldest.

Tomb # 6 (1992-1) contained the remains of an adult female (Figure 11). The body had been wrapped in feathers and estera textiles, traces of which were still visible in patches, although most portionsa had distintegrated. Grave goods included a Conchalepas shell with lithic artifacts and a bone awl underneath.

Tomb #7 (1992-2) contained the skeletal remains of another single individual, lying in an extended position (Figure 12). The individual had been accompanied by textiles. The objects found in the shallow grave with this individual included the remains of what was appartenly a long wooden staff, several shells, including a Conchalepas shell, two Choromytilus valves, and a small sharpened bone artifact which was found broken into three peices. . Significance

Although additional excavations would be desirable, the work we have completed at Villa del Mar provides exciting new data on the Early to Middle Archaic Period Chinchorro occupation of the south-central Andean coast. Villa del Mar is now one of only two sites dating to the Early-Middle Archaic Period at which data have been collected on domestic, midden, and mortuary areas of a Chinchorro site. It provides an outstanding comparison with Camarones-14 (Schiappacasse and Niemeyer 1984), and it will be even more important when analysis is complete.

In the meantime, Villa del Mar provides more evidence for the discussion of Chinchorro settlement. Although intensive survey of several valleys has provided excellent settlement data for much of the northern Chilean coast, little of this work has been connected directly with discussions of the Chinchorro tradition or culture. Nu–ez (1969) did observe that Chinchorro sites tended to be found in coastal river valleys. The sites of Acha-2 (Mu–oz, et al. 1993), Camarones-14 (Schiappacasse and Niemeyer 1984), and now Villa del Mar seem to confirm such placement of Early to Middle Archaic Period Chinchorro residential sites.

The river mouths along the south-central Andes provide the very best locations for human settlement on the coast. It is only at the river mouths that the rich terrestrial resources of the river valleys, as well as the rich marine resources of the Peru current system are both readily available. It is not surprising that these areas served as home to the Chinchorro.

Saxe, Goldstein (Charles and Buikstra 1983; Goldstein 1980; Saxe 1970; Saxe and Gall 1977) and others have discussed the importance of competition over resources in the development of formal cemeteries, arguing that in situations where there is competition over scarce, critical resources, human groups employ sedentary subsistence-settlement strategies, practice territorial behavior, and attempt to exert a claim on access to the critical resources. One aspect of the claim is often ritual, and this can include mortuary ritual, associated with the development of formal cemetery areas where group members are buried. The cemetery forms part of the group's territory, where the direct ancestors of group members are buried. The presence of a cemetery containing the ancestors reinforces the group's claim to the territory. Thus the existence of formal cemeteries suggests the presence of corporate groups controlling critical resources (Goldstein 1980).

Such a scenario can be applied easily to the Chinchorro area. There, fresh water is a scarce and obviously a critical resource. Rivers and springs provide the only sources of fresh water in this, the driest desert in the world. River mouths, which provide access to fresh water, as well as to rich terrestrial and marine resource patches, would have been prime magnets for settlement, even for very small populations. In the Ilo area, the settlement at Villa del Mar is found at the mouth of the Ilo river. Just north of Ilo, the site of Yara has yet to be studied intensively, but it appears to be another Chinchorro settlement, in this case located at a coastal spring. By contrast, in areas lacking access to fresh water, sites appear mostly to be special use sites, such as the large shell midden Ring Site (Sandweiss et al 1989).

The composition of early Chinchorro sites, with their houses, middens, and cemeteries, suggests some commitment, possibly seasonal, to Chinchorro settlements such as Villa del Mar and Camarones-14. The sites are relatively small, and the domestic structures are less substantial than those seen later; the different areas of the site are not formally segregated one from another, and the cemeteries, though distinct, do not exhibit a great deal of formal organization.

Villa del Mar, and sites like it, can best be understood as important settlements for Early to Middle Archaic Period peoples, which were occupied either full time, or served as seasonally important base camps. Such a scenario does not fully explain the elaborate burial treatment received by some Chinchorro corpses, but it does provide a focus for continuing research on Chinchorro habitations. Understanding the settlement patterns of the Chinchorro provide many of the keys to understanding the development of Chinchorro mortuary practices.

Wise, Karen 1995 La ocupacion Chinchorro en Villa del Mar, Ilo, Peru. Gaceta Arqueológica Andina 24:135-149