Isotopes and human organizational diversity in South America

Abstract

Isotopic analysis of archaeological human remains has become an essential tool within the global bioarchaeological research agenda. This article explores the substantial contributions of isotopic analysis to the field of bioarchaeology in South America, with particular emphasis on the patterns of socioeconomic diversification associated with human-environment interactions. Our case-studies on a continental scale -from northernmost South America to Patagonia, and from the Pacific to the Atlantic Oceans-include the lifeways of hunter-gatherer populations and the processes of domestication and/or economic integration of domestic plants and animals since the Early Holocene. The study of stable isotopes in South America has contributed considerably to our understanding of cultural changes associated with agricultural development, dietary specialization, diversification, and theemergence of social differentiation. Building on this, we analyze the state of the art of isotopic applications in the South American continent, highlighting main findings, empirical gaps and methodological challenges that will continue to shape the field in years to come.