Settlement pattern
In the Early Archaic period, the moist environmental conditions allowed small bands of hunter-gatherers to roam around in search of different resources, occupying caves and rock shelters along established routes. The emergence of a more arid climate beginning in 7000 BCE limited the number of habitable places, preventing the groups from traveling over large distances. In the Dry Puna, groups took advantage of resources that were concentrated around the wetlands of the high Puna in winter, and also made small temporary camps at lower altitudes. In the Salt Puna, in contrast, the people began to establish more stable settlements in oases and lowland ravines, also making smaller summertime camps in the high Puna. Thanks to increased humidity in the environment, around 3000 BCE these groups began to make use of different kinds of settlements in different ecological strata, building more permanent settlements in both the dry and salt punas.