Economy
The hunter-gatherer way of life is characterized by an economy based on hunting, fishing and gathering resources for food and other uses. These groups hunted a variety of species, including both larger animals such as wild camelids (guanacos and vicuñas) and tarucas (Andean deer), which provided meat and skins for clothing and shelter, and smaller ones such as birds and rodents. They were hunted using wooden darts with triangular or leaf-shaped stone points. To slaughter their prey they used tools made of stone, wood or bone. Their gathering included food species, medicinal plants, and woody and fibrous plants for making cord and baskets. They also collected materials for making instruments. Towards the end of this long period these hunter-gatherers, who were already experts in hunting camelids, would use their extensive knowledge of these creatures to begin domesticating them.