Historia
Evidence from Paleo-Indian sites in Patagonia suggests that these southern regions were colonized from the east, through the territory of what is now Argentina, or perhaps along the Atlantic coast, where sea levels were far lower than in modern times. The colonization of these lands demanded a cultural adaptation to the environments of the steppes and woodlands, but it is noteworthy that these groups made no use of the abundant marine resources that are so plentiful along the region’s coasts. One of the stone tools that is considered most typical of this period is the ‘fishtail’ projectile point, named after the shape of its base. This point was tied to the shaft of a spear, which was then thrown using an atlatl or spear-thrower. These projectile points have been found at many sites dating back to this period in South America. In terms of rituals, the presence of the discoid stones suggests cultural relations with other groups that inhabited the Pacific coast of South America at roughly the same time and who inhabited sites such as the Huentelauquén complex in North-Central Chile or the Las Vegas complex in Ecuador. Similarities in artifacts suggest some cultural connection or shared background linking these ancient peoples who colonized South America from the North.