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World Prehistory
INTRODUCTION
237
0892-7537/02/0900-0237/0 ? 2002 Plenum Publishing Corporation
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238 Gasson
THE NATU
A useful appro
of it as an ecosy
and ecosystems
logical organiza
precisely the c
the main transp
of the Basin (Le
main pathway,
itself, since mo
organized follow
From the geog
per Orinoco ru
22' W-02? 19'
The Andes
of view, this region is formed by the mountain front and piedmont of the
Colombia Eastern Cordillera and its northern extension, the Venezuelan
Andes, as well as the southern slope of the Venezuela's coastal cordillera. The
high mountain front reaches more than 4000 masl and its base is defined by
the piedmont topography. The most important physiographic features are ir
regular, undulating or uneven slopes, rugged forms, high hills and slopes, with
formations such as moraines, alluvial fans and terraces in the mountain front
and canyons and narrow valleys in the piedmont (Corpooccidente, 1982,
p. 23). Some of the most important tributaries of the Orinoco River (such
as the Meta, Guaviare, and Apure Rivers) originate here. The region has
Paramo pluvial-Alpine (mean temperature 1.5-5?C; precipitation of 1500
2000 mm annually) and sub-Alpine bioclimates (mean temperature 6-12?C;
precipitation of 1600-2000 mm annually). There are two seasons: a wet sea
son from April to December and a dry season from January to March. In
addition, three vegetational layers can be differentiated: the "Paramo Com
munity" (above 4000 masl), with low and herbaceous vegetation; the "An
dean Bush" (4000-3000 masl), where the dominant species are shrubs, such
as arborescent ferns; and the "Andean Forest" (below 3000 masl) with ar
borescent growths of varied nature depending on local conditions.
From the geomorphological viewpoint, the piedmont is a unique and
transitional physical and geographical area. In the high hills, the piedmont
characteristically has slopes and terraces that are the product of the com
bined effects of gravity, runoff, and solifluction of parent materials and sed
iments of diverse nature, textures, and disposition. In the lower parts, land
slides and other movement of sediments have shaped formations such as
cones, alluvial fans, and narrow valleys flanked by steep inclines. Most of the
sedimentation of the colluvium coming from erosional areas occurs in the
piedmont region, with deep and stable soils generally used for vega agricul
ture (Schubert and Vivas, 1993, pp. 186-187). The climate in this strip is also
transitional, exhibiting very humid, humid, and dry types of weather with
annual precipitation of 2000-2800 mm for the first two, and 1400-1600 mm
for the last. There are two ranges of annual mean temperature: the tropical
(24-26?C) and the premountain (18-24?C). In general, the seasonal climatic
pattern is less extreme than the adjacent alluvial landscape, with seven to
nine humid months and three to five dry months. These various factors favor
the growth of dense evergreen forests.
The Llanos
The Orinoco plains or llanos, as they are known locally, are located in
a large geosyncline, limited by the Guiana shield to the south and east, the
Andean Cordillera to the west and the Caribbean Cordillera to the north
(Medina, 1980, p. 297; Vila, 1960, pp. 106-107). The llanos area comprises
more than 500,000 km2 of Quaternary sediments, with heavy clayey texture
and imperfect drainage, and affected by seasonal flooding. The soils are ex
tremely poor in almost all macronutrients. Despite the general poverty of
the soils, there are some regions with deep, young, and fertile soils, where
seasonal excess of water is the most important limitation. However, they
occur in a patchy distribution (Sarmiento, 1990, p. 17). In general, the re
gion has two well-defined landscapes: the high llanos, which reach from the
piedmont to 100 masl, covered with great masses of forests alternating with
savannas, and the low llanos, below 100 masl and covered with savannas
and gallery forests. In Colombia, these landscapes are known as llanos ar
riba and llanos abajo, respectively (Medina, 1980, p. 297; Rausch, 1994, p. 9;
Sarmiento, 1984, pp. 3,17; Silva and Moreno, 1993, pp. 240-241; Vila, 1960,
pp. 106-107).
Climatic variability plays a critical role in determining the structure of
the savanna ecosystem. The Orinoco llanos have a continental, homoge
neous, macrothermic, and isothermic climate. Annual mean temperatures
are 24-28? C. In general, the climate is seasonal and unpredictable, with a
dry period, known locally as "summer," and a wet period called "winter." A
remarkable unevenness in annual precipitation is one of the main charac
teristics of the northern South America rainfall regime. Extreme dry years
occur with enough frequency to constitute an important ecological factor.
In contrast, there are years of severe rains with often catastrophic effects,
such as floods. There is usually an extremely wet year every 4-5 years; dry
years are less predictable. Fire and winds are additional ecological factors
to be considered. Fire is important because it creates and expands savannas,
having a cyclical, yearly or almost yearly occurrence. Winds also present
seasonal variations. For several months of the year, the winds contribute to
the evaporation of ground humidity, plant transpiration, concentration of
fauna near permanent water sources, and dispersion of savanna wildfires
(Sarmiento, 1984, p. 48; Tamayo, 1987, p. 61; Vila, 1960, p. 221).
The natural vegetation of the llanos is of four main types: forests, dry
savannas, wet savannas, and swamps. The savanna vegetation is charac
terized by high primary production and abundant green phytomass that
shows marked seasonal fluctuations (Sarmiento, 1984; Sarmiento etal, 1971;
Solbrig, 1993). The boundary between savanna and forest has always been
dynamic, and changes in it can be attributed to fire, soil types, microre
lief, hydrological regime, and human activities (Corpooccidente, 1982; Hills
and Randall, 1968, p. 105). Another basic distinction can be drawn between
the riverine and the inland or hinterland areas. Riverine areas are richer
in biomass and resources, because they are less affected by seasonal
fluctuations. The inland areas have poorer and more dispersed resources
with larger seasonal differences in resource availability (Sarmiento, 1984,
pp. 135-136).
Guayana
The Delta
The Delta embraces an area of about 23,700 km2 (Heinen et ah, 1995,
p. 313). The area is a vast, fan-shaped swamp, formed by Quaternary sedi
ments deposited by a labyrinthine system of river and stream distributaries
of the Orinoco, and some small tributary rivers coming from Bolivar and
Monagas States and the Republic of Guiana. This hydrologic system has
shaped and dissected the sediments, creating innumerable islands of vari
ous sizes. The islands are characterized by a central depression surrounded
by elevated borders, where human settlement and cultivation occur. The
dominant landscapes are marshy plains, both marine and fluvial, with slopes
not greater than 2%, except in the southeast where there are undulating
areas with slopes up to 25%. There are other geological formations such as
peneplains; hills, floodplains, and marine shores (Petr61eos de Venezuela,
1992, pp. 203-213). The region has a wet marine climate of four seasons
ruled by the intertropical convergence zone. Seasons are determined more
by fluctuations in rainfall than temperature, which varies only from 21 to
26?C. Precipitation occurs with greater or lesser intensity throughout the
year (Wilbert, 1996, p. 8).
The Delta region has three geographic zones?the littoral, the inter
mediate, and the prelittoral (Wilbert, 1996, pp. 5-10). The littoral zone is
permanently flooded by rain and tides. The area is 10-30 km wide, with a
peaty and clayey base, covered by large mangrove trees, which surround the
islands and stabilize their shorelines. Behind the mangrove trees are swamp
forests with clusters of moriche and temiche palm-trees (Mauritia flexuosa
and Manicaria saccifera), which are important sources of food and raw ma
terials for the local inhabitants.
The intermediate zone consists of a strip, 40-80 km wide, also subject
to twice-daily tides. Although this intermediate strip is not flooded perma
nently, it is subject to seasonal flooding. The area is characterized by the pres
ence of swamps and islands with forests abundant in bucare trees (Erythrina
glauca), morichales, and herbaceous swamps. The littoral and intermediate
regions comprise the Delta's wetlands.
The prelittoral area lies inland towards the high Delta where it merges
with the Lower Orinoco River sensu stricto. It is the highest and oldest area,
and the volume of its waters depends on the rivers and the rain. Its rivers,
which are an integral part of the Orinoco system, are brown-water rivers
bordered by sand banks 3-4 m high. Although today the vegetation cover
has been completely altered, formerly the river's sandy banks were covered
by gallery forests with stands of palm trees. There are also savannas and
deciduous forests.
Andean Orinoquia
Fig. 2. Southeast Orinoco Basin area. (1) El Pauji; (2) El Almirante; (3) Los Rastrojos; (4)
Cazorla A-E; (5) Los Caros; (6) Hato Caribe; (7) Arauquin; (8) La Candelaria; (9) Rio Clarito;
(10) Cravo-Norte; (11) Mochuelo; (12) Bombay; (13) San Jose de Ariporo; (14) Maporita;
(15) CC2; (16) Aguazuque 1; (17) Guayabero 1; (18) Upper Ariari River area; (19) Yopal
Municipality area; (20) San Jose de Ocune area.
of the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy western slope. There, two archaeological
phases were identified: an early one, related to the Herrera period, and a
late one which can be associated with the U'wa and which shows similarities
to Muisca and Guane ceramics (Osborn, 1985, pp. 143-145).
In Arboloco, Department of Boyacd, Perez found a habitation site that
also served as a cemetery and lithic workshop for the production of batwing
pendants. The first occupation phase was associated with the Herrera period
of the first to the fifth centuries a.d. A second occupation phase was associated
with Guane and Muisca ceramics, which led Perez to interpret the site as
inhabited by the Lache or U'wa from the sixth to the sixteenth centuries a.d.
The presence of a workshop for batwing pendants in the eastern cordillera,
with earlier dates than those recovered in the Merida area, is important
because it indicates the antiquity and wide geographical distribution of these
objects in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, the Sierra de Merida and the Sierra
Nevada de Santa Marta (P6rez, 1999, pp. 170-179).
Other investigations in Andean Orinoquia have been designed to relate
archaeological materials to ethnohistoric data. In the Meta piedmont and
the Intendencia de Casanare, Mora and Cavelier identified two different,
late, and possibly contemporary occupations. In the piedmont, it was ob
served that the archaeological sites were distributed in three well differen
tiated landscape units. In one of them (site A2) were several mounds 10-40
m long. Excavations indicated that they were possible dwellings, and a date
of 380 b.p. ? 50 years was obtained. Mora and Cavelier's excavations recov
ered plant remains, including maize (Zea ways) peanut (Aradris hypogaea)
pipire (Guilielma gasipaes), and yopo (Anadanthera peregrina). It is sug
gested that these sedentary farmers were related to the Guayupe people
of the sixteenth century (G6mez and Cavelier, 1998, p. 173; Herrera, 1987,
pp. 44-45).
Earlier occupations have been located in the Casanare area. As part
of a CRM study, Alarc6n and Segura (1998) carried out an archaeological
and geological study of the CC2 site, located on a colluvial terrace in the
piedmont area in the municipality of Aguazul, Departamento del Casanare,
and in a very humid piedmont forest. The excavations revealed the pres
ence of anthropogenic soils, charred seeds and charcoal, and ceramic and
lithic artifacts. The most common vessel shapes are globular vessels with
upright rims and rounded lips, mucuras with vertical plane handles, open
bowls and plates decorated with incision of parallel wavy and oblique lines.
The chert artifacts consisted mainly of scrapers, choppers, and axes. Two
dates of 1020 b.p. ? 40 years (Beta 111424) and 1430 rr ? 40 years (Beta
111424) were obtained, and occupation is placed around the sixth century
a.d. (Alarc6n and Segura, 1998, pp. 100,120). Aguazul has certain similarities
to La Maporita site, located on a high alluvial terrace of the right bank of
the Cusiana River (municipality of Tauramena) and dated around the fourth
century a.d. (Alarc6n and Segura, 1998, p. 101).
The Venezuelan Andean region comprises the states of T&chira, M6rida,
and Trujillo, and the southern part of Lara. Although this region has been
hardly addressed in the archaeological literature of South America, because
of its peripheral location with respect to the central Andes, it shares nu
merous features with the eastern Colombian Cordillera. The similarities
include a probable linguistic affiliation of Chibcha origin, pottery traditions
and burial practices, a settlement pattern that combined nucleated villages
and dispersed hamlets in different ecological zones, and the presence of so
cial inequality and religious specialists, starting around 1000 b.p. (Lleras and
Langebaek, 1987, p. 264; Wagner, 1980, p. 6; 1993, p. 278). Modern research
began with the work of Osgood and Howard (1943) and Kidder (1944).
In 1934, Kidder carried out excavations in Carache (Trujillo state), while
Osgood and Howard excavated a cemetery at the site of Tabay, in the Chama
River valley (Merida state), and they reported habitation sites and petro
glyph sites in the Tachira State piedmont. Later, Cruxent excavated at the
sites of Capacho and La Mulera (Tdchira), Chipepe (M6rida), and Santa Ana
and Betijoque (Trujillo), all of which were incorporated into the regional
chronology of Venezuela (Cruxent and Rouse, 1958-1959, pp 134-150).
Beginning in 1963, Wagner carried out a program of systematic exca
vations in the Andean States that provided a series of radiocarbon dates,
ceramic styles, and hypotheses concerning the classification and use of space
that has served as the basis for most subsequent investigations. The early
ceramic evidence of farming societies in the Venezuelan Andes come from
El Jobal (1680 b.p. ? 70 years to 1530 rp. ? 50 years, Tx-1577/Tx-1579) and
Miquimti (1300 b.r ? 170 years, IVIC-179) in Trujillo, and Pie de Cuesta
(2060 b.p. ? 250 years) in Tdchira. Following the classificatory outline and
the regional chronology proposed by Cruxent and Rouse, Wagner defined
the Miquimuoid series (1650-950 b.r) that includes the Miquimti style (area
of Carache), and Las Guayabitas style (area of Bocon6) in Trujillo. Also,
the Tierroid series was enlarged to include not only the styles defined for
the Lara state and the materials from the north of Portuguese state, but
also the Mirinday (area of Carache), San Nicotes (area of Bocon6), and
Mucuchies (area of Mucuchfes, Merida State) styles. In T&chira State, Durdn
has included the materials of El Guamo and Independencia in the Daba
juroid series, and those from Babuquena, La Rochela, and El Palmar sites
in the Tierroid series (Duran, 1998, pp. 55, 65,103,109).
Starting from the formal differences in material culture, settlement pat
tern and local ecology, Wagner defined a series of cultural patterns that
correspond to the main ecological zones of the Venezuelan Andes. The An
dean pattern corresponds to the tierra fria, located at 2000 masl. It was
60 terraces was identified. The terraces were regular, built with dry-stone
walling, and had cultivation surfaces 1.5-2.0 m wide (Puig, 1996, pp. 102
103).
We know less about the organization of the villages and domestic units.
The San Ger6nimo site (Vargas, 1969) is perhaps the best known village of the
Andean pattern, and has been dated to 810 b.p. ? 70 years (SI-534). It had a
house with a square structure, associated with underground silos (mintoyes),
and the possible remains of two other houses were also located. The ceramic
forms of San Ger6nimo are similar to those described for Miquimu and La
Pedregosa Alta (Gordones and Meneses, 1992, pp. 13-31; Sanoja and Vargas,
1999a, p. 66; Vargas, 1969, p. 123). In Colinas de Queniquea, in the high basin
of the Uribante River, Tachira State, Dur?n located at least 30 oval terraces
supported by stone bases. The terraces follow the natural contours of the hill
and are linked by stone walkways. One of the terraces produced 19 burials.
The ceramics, which are still under analysis, are extremely complex, and
show general relationships with the polychrome series of western Venezuela
(Duran, 1993, pp. 42-46).
Systematic archaeological investigations of the Andean region's caves
and rock shelters have been few. Martin and Tillet recovered two cobs from
a primitive type of maize and ceramics related to Wagner's Andean pattern
from a rockshelter near M6rida city (Martin and Tillet, 1984, p. 17). Armand
carried out excavations at La Maneta rockshelter, Municipio Miranda, in the
state of Merida, where he found human remains that supposedly reflected
ritual cannibalism (Armand, 1985, p. 73). More recent excavations by Gil
indicate that the rockshelter functioned as a temporary hunting station or
a place where human cremations occurred. Other caves and rockshelters
located above 2000 masl were probably used for ritual activities (Gil, 1996,
p. 92; 1997, pp. 29-30).
In the Mocao Alto area, in Mucuchfes, Merida, Wagner located a lithic
workshop where batwing pendants were produced from serpentinite and
steatite. It is remarkable that, in addition to being a village and workshop, the
site served also as a cemetery. Some 18 human burials were recovered, with
the tools of their trade and finished pendants as funerary offerings. There
were in situ polishers, sharpeners, raw material fragments, and pendants
in all stages of manufacture. The Mocao Alto workshop is associated with
the Mucuchfes phase, and two absolute dates of 1120 b.p. ? 150 years and
970 b.r ? 70 years place the site into Period IV of the regional chronology
(Wagner, 1973, p. 207; 1993, p. 276; Wagner and Schubert, 1972, p. 888).
Other workshops have also been located, such as El Bolo, in the high basin
of the Chama River (Nino, 1990, p. 39; 1996, p. 149).
Besides the stone pendants, gold objects also served as symbols of wealth
or political power. Wagner recovered a small sheet of gold in Mucuchfes. The
object is of Colo
Wagner, 1980,
There are many
ities in the area
studies that coul
ciopolitical conse
societies vary gr
tions of hierarchi
organized corpo
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tween the Ande
support to the p
Venezuelan And
the variables of
Martin as part of the Tocuyanoid series. The ceramics have since been reclas
sified by Arvelo as belonging to the Santa Ana style of the new Lagunillas
tradition (Arvelo, 1987, pp. 63-64; Martin, 1976, p. 195).
In the Barinas piedmont, Spencer and Redmond located a number of
archaeological sites in the Upper Canagu? and Curbati Rivers. Analysis
of the material has allowed the definition of three different ceramic com
plexes. The best known are the Early and Late Curbati complexes, which
range from 1650 to 950 b.p. The pottery is delicate, with thin walls, and
vessel-forms include hemispherical bowls, composite silhouette vessels, and
ollas. The decoration consists of incisions, deep curvilinear notches, and ap
plications with red painting. Curbati ceramics show certain similarities to
the Lagunillas phase in the Lake of Maracaibo Basin, Santa Ana in Trujillo,
Agua Blanca in the Portuguesa piedmont, and perhaps to some materials de
scribed by Osborn in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy (Osborn, 1985; Spencer,
1991, pp. 149-150). The settlement patterns and the political organization
differ from the llanos chiefdoms of the Late Gavdn Phase, and reveal less
political centralization. On the other hand, there are differences among the
settlements in both valleys. The population of the Upper Curbati River val
ley was greater than that of the Upper Canagua* valley. Also, there are six
petroglyph sites in the Upper Curbati River valley, while none is known in
the Upper Canagud River valley. Spencer and Redmond suggest that the
petroglyphs were probably markers of trade routes, and conclude that the
inhabitants of the Upper Curbati River could have played an important
role as middlemen between the Andean societies and the chiefdoms of the
high llanos (Spencer, 1991, pp. 159-160). Among the petroglyphs of the
Upper Curbati River are depictions of the stone batwing pendants. In fact,
Spencer and Redmond recovered serpentinite artifacts at Gav?n (Redmond
and Spencer, 1990, pp. 14-20; Spencer, 1991, p. 160). The petroglyphs of the
Upper Curbati River are among the hundreds known from at the piedmont
of Barinas state (Novoa and Costas, 1998). The later Cafio Seco Complex is
related to the San Nicolas phase of the area of Mucuchies. The ceramics are
simpler and rougher; the shapes are limited to globular ollas, jars, bowls, and
tripods; and the decoration is confined to geometric incisions and remains of
red and cream slip. This phase belongs to the Mirinday tradition and dates to
950-450 b.p. (Redmond and Spencer, 1990, pp. 11-14; Wagner, 1972, p. 46).
Recently, Duran found archaeological sites in the eastern piedmont of
Tdchira state. The sites of El Palmar and San Miguel lie in the region adja
cent to Barinas and Apure states. El Palmar seems to have been a habitation
and burial site, while San Miguel was a habitation site with a low density
of material (Dur?n, 1986, p. 10; 1988, p. 20). The ceramics show general
relationships to the Hokomo, Mirinday, Osoid, and Lagunillas traditions
(Duran, 1986, pp. 8-10; 1988, p. 20). Their late date gives some support to
Arvelo's position regarding the importance of the piedmont and the high
llanos for the diffusion of the early polychrome styles of western Venezuela,
and against Oliver's prediction of sites with early polychrome pottery to the
south of the area (Arvelo, 1987; p. 59; Gasson, 1999, p. 83; Oliver, 1989,
p. 115). Nevertheless, the dates from the state of Tachira, especially those
from the site of San Miguel, will have to be confirmed in order to inte
grate them properly into the regional chronology (Duran, 1986, p. 11; 1988,
pp. 22-23; Wagner, 1993, Tables 8-1 and 8-2).
Fig. 3. Northeast Orinoco Basin area. (1) Cano del Oso; (2) Agua Blanca; (3) La Betania; (4)
La Calzada; (5) Cano Carom; (6) Cano Ventosidad; (7) El Choque; (8) La Patilla; (9) P 109;
(10) Gavan; (11) Curbati; (12) Batatuy; (13) El Cedral; (14) San Miguel; (15) El Palmar; (16) La
Cajara; (17) El Zamuro; (18) Saguas; (19) El Cajinate; (20) Lazo Abierto; (21) San Isidro; (22)
Flores/Los Bebederos; (23) Ramon Lepage (A-59); (24) Banco de Morrones; (25) El Guaical;
(26) Santa Elena; (27) Ramon Lepage (P-66), (A-57) y El Limon; (28) Lazo Abierto; (29) Cer
ritos de San Rafael; (30) Punto Fijo; (31) Bocon6; (32) Niquitao; (33) El Jobal; (34) Betijoque;
(35) Tuname; (36) Timotes; (37) Mucuchies; (38) San Geronimo; (39) Tabay; (40) Lagunillas;
(41) Chiguara; (42) Babuquena; (43) Pie de Cuesta; (44) Capacho; (45) Los Cremones; (46)
Los Monos; (47) La Mulera; (48) La Rochela; (49) Carache; (50) Santa Ana.
sponges such as Parmula batesii). This also resulted in the introduction of the
Polio maize variety, used by the Osoid population, into the Orinoco. Corozal
phase ceramics show polychrome painting that might have originated in the
western llanos (Rouse, 1978, p. 207). In Corozal Phase III, the Chandelle
variety of maize was introduced, associated with all the stylistic features
typical of the Arauquinoid Series (Zucchi, 1985a), and the displacement of
Cedenoid and Arauquinoid groups toward the llanos also began (Zucchi,
1985a, p. 15).
According to Zucchi and Denevan, a 15.5 km2 raised-field system for in
tensive agricultural production was probably in use between 750 and
550 b.p. in the Cano Ventosidad region, Barinas (Zucchi, 1985b; Zucchi and
Denevan, 1979, p. 82). They see the development of such practices as a conse
quence of ecological variability, the extreme conditions in the lowland llanos,
and migration and demographic pressure among the inhabitants of the Mid
dle Orinoco from 950 b.p. onwards (Zucchi, 1978, p. 349; Zucchi and Denevan,
1979, p. 72). According to Zucchi, the population increase associated with the
spread of the Arauquinoid population was based on the introduction of man
ioc cultivation and raised-field construction into an area formerly dependent
on maize (Denevan and Zucchi, 1978, p. 244; Roosevelt, 1980, p. 189). Zucchi
later suggested that intensive agriculture was a minor productive strategy,
since local populations could have cultivated elevated areas of the savanna
(Zucchi, 1984, p. 315).
Between 750 and 450 b.r, there is great cultural diversity in the archae
ological record of Barinas, Portuguesa, and Cojedes States. Some clues to
understanding this period are the "Arauquinoid Expansion," including the
presence of numerous groups from the tropical forest; the appearance in the
llanos of groups related to the Tierroid and Dabajuroid series; the emergence
of the late Cedenoid complexes; and the expansion of the Osoid population
toward Portuguesa State.
From 950 b.r onwards, the Orinoco and Amazons Basins saw the ex
pansion of numerous tropical forest groups. This reached its climax in the
Middle Orinoco, the "Arauquinoid Expansion," around 750 b.r, displacing
other smaller groups (Zucchi, 1978, p. 356; 1985a, p. 35). The Cano Carom
complex is an example of such displacement. The characteristics of this com
plex are relatively simple pottery; subsistence based on hunting, fishing, and
manioc cultivation; elaborate burials in urns; and the possible practice of
cannibalism and headhunting. A small piece of gold was found in Cano
Carom, which could have been obtained by exchange with the Andean soci
eties (Zucchi, 1976, p. 50). The bearers of the complex resettled in the gallery
forests of Barinas state, a microenvironment similar to their original home
(Zucchi, 1976, p. 81).
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complex societies of the chiefdom level arose between 1450 and 1350 b.p. This
is supported by six types of evidence: (1) a regional hierarchy of settlements;
(2) monumental architecture in the form of pyramidal mounds and other
structures such as wooden or earthern enclosures; (3) considerable increase
in population; (4) differentiation in residential and funerary patterns; (5)
use of complex technologies for agriculture and transport; and (6) complex
social relationships with other polities, including long-distance exchange and
warfare.
The Gav?n polity was united by a network of causeways connecting
three classes of settlements: a primary regional center with public structures
such as plazas and ceremonial mounds, surrounded by a wooden enclo
sure; secondary centers, with public structures but without enclosures; and
third-order villages and hamlets without any public architecture. Late Gav&n
ceramics have many similarities to La Betania complex (Redmond and
Spencer, 1990, pp. 17-20; Spencer and Redmond, 1983, p. 137; 1992, p. 154).
According to these authors, specialized techniques for intensive culti
vation were already in use in the savannas of Barinas during the Late Gav?n
phase. Analyses suggest that the productive potential of B27 (La Tigra), a
drained-field facility near the regional center, exceeded the needs of the lo
cal community. Pollen from B27 clearly indicates that maize was the most
important cultigen. Since there is no evidence of population pressure, they
propose that the agricultural surpluses were the economic base of chiefly
activities, such as long-distance exchange and warfare (Spencer et al, 1994,
pp. 138-139).
Other aspects of the archaeological record of the western llanos have
also been reinterpreted. Traditionally, it had been thought that the causeways
linking many of the sites were used for travel in the wet season or for agri
cultural production (Cruxent, 1952, p. 286; Denevan, 1991, p. 240; Garson,
1980, p. 323). However, the analysis of the Late Gavdn causeway showed no
correlation between places subject to periodic floods and their connection
to the network. Spencer and Redmond thus concluded that the configura
tion of the causeways resulted from a complex set of political, military, and
religious factors, all related to the sociopolitical dynamics of the Late Gavan
phase and intended to promote sociopolitical integration (Redmond and
Spencer, 1995, p. 254; Spencer and Redmond, 1998, pp. 108-109). Gass6n
has suggested that the characteristics and distribution of some secondary
centers could indicate some independence of local communities. Tension
between local communities and the overarching polity is characteristic of
chiefdoms, where centralization is always a fragile institution in process of
constant negotiation (Earle, 1991, p. 13; Gass6n, 1997, p. 25).
Other investigations of the political economy and landscape organiza
tion of these complex societies are ongoing in the region of El Cedral, about
1290 b.r ? 50 years (Beta 117265) and 1260 b.r ? 50 years (Beta 117266) b.r It
is also possible that forces from El Cedral were responsible for the destruc
tion of El Gavan and the abandonment of their centers and subordinate
villages. It would seem that the political change in the llanos area had to
do mainly with competition and warfare among neighboring polities, as is
characteristic of "cycling chiefdoms" (Redmond et aL, 1999, pp. 124-126).
Koerner and Gasson have suggested other possible functions for these
regional centers. In their view, association of the social and ecological prac
tices of El Cedral with ancestors and deities may have been metaphorically
expressed by the cosmological symbolism of the enclosures, the distribution
of mounds and agricultural features, and the location of the center at the in
tersection of different types of landscapes. Consequently, assigning specific
functions to the enclosures without taking into account their ritual dimen
sion may limit our understanding of their multiple roles (Edmonds, 1993;
Koerner and Gass6n, 2001, pp. 202-203).
Research in the lower llanos of the state of Apure has been less intense.
In the San Fernando area, Cruxent and Rouse recorded three ceramic styles:
Los Caros, Arauqum, and Matraquero. Los Caros ceramics were recovered
in a mound near Cazorla (Guarico State). They are tempered with sand
and clay, shaped mostly as bowls with flat or obtuse rims and decorated
with wide and narrow incisions, and ollas with triangular rims. Los Caros
style was assigned to the Cedenoid series by Zucchi and Tarble (Zucchi
and Tarble, 1984, p. 303). The Arauqum and Matraquero styles belong to
the Arauquinoid series. Materials of the Arauqum style were collected at
various localities within Hato La Candelaria and Hato Arauquin, near the
mouth of the Apure (Petrullo, 1939, p. 293). Several sites, probably mounds,
in the vicinity of Cazorla feature the Matraquero ceramic style. Matraquero
ceramics are tempered with cauixi, and there are various vessel shapes dec
orated with incision and excision. The predominant motifs are geometric
designs and faces with coffee-bean eyes (Cruxent and Rouse, 1958-1959,
pp. 189-194).
In 1971, Zucchi located several sites in Apure State but only one has
been studied. The site of Rio Clarito is about 1 km from the Clarito river
mouth in the high Capanaparo river. The Rio Clarito ceramic complex is
characterized by the use of cauixi and cariape (siliceous ash) as tempers;
tubular, convex and conical vessels and plates; and painted triangular motifs.
The complex shares technological and formal features with the Arauquin and
Matraquero styles and with the Cano Carom complex from Barinas. The site
has a date of 550 b.r ? 70 years (Tx-1254) (Oberti, 1977, pp. 54-56).
In contrast to the sustained investigations in Venezuela's western llanos,
as recently as 1986 Reichel-Dolmatoff maintained that the immense ter
ritory east of the Colombian eastern Cordillera was practically unknown
refuse heap and remains of a possible living floor; the radiocarbon date is
300 b.p. ? 50 years (Beta 4657). Analysis of the ceramics showed 17 forms,
including bowls, bottles, plates, large containers, figurines, and pendants;
some were caw/ja-tempered. Stone axes and a copper nose-piece were also
recovered. These occupations have been tentatively related to the Achagua
Indians, the Arauquinoid series, and the Cano Caroni complex (Herrera,
1987, p. 46; Mora, 1986-1988, p. 90).
Baquero carried out a survey of the San Jose de Ocune region at the con
fluence of the Vichada and Muco Rivers. Surface sites were found, charac
terized by areas of black earth, 1-6 m wide and about 40 cm deep, associated
with ceramic and lithic material. The ceramics are tempered with cariape,
charcoal, and clay pellets; the most common forms are wide-mouthed ves
sels and griddles. They are decorated with red-on-white and red paint, and
have geometric motifs that could indicate links with Aguerito and other
Arauquinoid sites of the Middle Orinoco (Baquero, 1985; Herrera, 1987,
p. 48). Botiva and others reported pictographs in the Lower Guayabero
River, near the confluence with the Ariari. As in the Upper and Middle
Orinoco area, the paintings seem to be a palimpsest of styles from different
periods (Herrera, 1987, p. 49). Herrera conducted other excavations and
preliminary visits to other locations in the eastern llanos, but, as far as we
know, reports have yet to be published (Herrera, 1987).
Finally, the origins, size, complexity, and other characteristics of the ex
change networks connecting regions as far apart as the eastern Andes, the
Llanos, and the Guianas have been a matter of controversy. The ethnohis
toric data for the Colombian and Venezuelan llanos were synthesized by
Morey (1975,1976; Morey and Morey, 1975). The area was conceived as a
unit, integrated by societies with different economic activities, total or par
tially specialized according to ecological differences in the area. This mutual
dependence prevented social inequality, and reciprocity was the norm. Be
ginning in the 1980s, this model was widened in scope and depth, leading to
a model of an Orinoco system of regional interdependence, based on peer
polity exchange (Arvelo-Jimenez et al, 1989; Arvelo-Jimenez and Biord,
1994). An alternative view questions the ethnohistoric studies in which the
prehistoric societies of Orinoquia were considered to have been egalitar
ian, and points out that the early documents described a situation already
profoundly modified by colonial encounters. The rarity and high-status char
acter of most of the trade objects could indicate the existence of prestige
good exchange systems. In this case, exchange and interaction among groups
were not ecologically driven, but rather stemmed from economic and po
litical pursuits (Gass6n, 1996, 2000; Langebaek, 1992; Zucchi and Gass6n,
1986).
Until the first half of the twentieth century, the few investigations carried
out at the Upper Orinoco area were concentrated near the Atures rapids,
to the north of the state of Amazonas. Cruxent was the first to establish a
ceramic style at Cotua Island (Fig. 4) where petroglyphs and lithic workshops
were also located (Cruxent, 1950, p. 10). The Cotua style was assigned to the
Saladoid series, although it shares many elements with the Barrancoid series
(Cruxent and Rouse, 1958-1959, p. 205).
Perera's report of archaeological ceramics from four funerary caves
near the Atures rapids represented the beginning of a systematic program
of historical speleology that later extended to other regions of Orinoquia
(Perera, 1971). In 1984, Perera and Moreno briefly reported archaeologi
cal material collected in the rockshelters of La Vaca (Atures Department,
Amazonas State) and Casa de Piedra (Cedeno District, Bolivar State). The
rockshelters are within 20 km of each other, and have ceramics on their
floors and pictographs. The ceramics are related to the Cotua Island style,
and to ceramics from Cueva Boulton, assigned to the Camoruco style of the
Arauquinoid series (Perera and Moreno, 1984, p. 31). Later, Perera summa
rized the speleological, bibliographical, and archaeological data on Ataruipe
cave (Atures Department, Amazonas State), a site well known since the
nineteenth century. The available information indicates that Ataruipe was
used as an ossuary or cemetery by several local groups from at least the
sixteenth century to the present. The funerary urns described by various
authors since Humboldt's time are possibly related to the Valloid series of
the Middle Orinoco (Perera, 1986a).
Although Barse's archaeological project in the area of Puerto Ayacucho
was directed mainly at questions of cultural history, it is the most intensive
done in that area (Barse, 1989, p. 12; 1995; 1999, p. 366). At three sites near
Puerto Ayacucho (Amazonas state), he found Preceramic occupations in
stratified contexts in alluvial terraces and relict channels of the Orinoco, from
which he established and defined a Tropical Forest Archaic Period. These
sites, Culebra, Provincial, and Pozo Azul, are at least 9000 years old and
clearly demonstrate human adaptation to the forest and tropical savannas
during the early and middle Holocene.
At the Culebra site, two Preceramic components were defined as
Atures I and II. The Atures I component is characterized by flake scrap
ers, flake cores, and debitage of local quartz and quartzite. The Atures II
component consists of flake scrapers and debitage similar to Atures I, but
also includes tanged projectile points on chert, which could come from the
Guayana Shield interior. These points show similarities to the Canaima com
plex (Cruxent, 1972; Rouse and Cruxent, 1963).
Fig. 4. Upper Orinoco area. (1) Cotua; (2) Atures; (3) Raudales Atures; (4) Raudal
de Maipures; (5) Atauripe; (6) Maipures; (7) San Fernando; (8) Guachapana; (9) La
Ceiba; (10,11) y; (12) San Juan de Manapiare; (13) Esmeralda; (14) Raudal Guaharibo;
(15) I. del Esfuerzo; (16) Raudal Salas; (17) Loma del Mecate; (18) Raudal de los
Tiestos; (19) Corobal; (20) Monou-Teri; (21) Albarical; (22) Pozo Azul Norte; (23)
Pozo Azul Sur; (24) Rabo de Cochino; (25, 26) Casa Vieja & Casa Vieja 2; (27)
Provincial; (28) Alto Carinagua; (29) Culebra & CAT-2; (30) El Tigre 1 & 2; (31)
San Pedro; (32) Nericagua; (33) Siquita; (34) Magua; (35) Iboa; (36) Panaven; (37)
Patacame; (38) La Punta; (39) Minicia Nueva; (40) Minicia Vieja; (41) Trapichote; (42)
Macuruco; (43) Chamuchina; (44) Pintado; (45) Caname; (46,47) s.n.; (48) Carida; (49)
Yagua; (50) San Antonio; (51) Puruname; (52) 5; (53) 4; (54) 3; (55) Garza; (56) Pueblo
Viejo; (57, 58) Victorino; (59) Democracia; (60) Comunidad; (61) s.n.; (62) s.n.; (63)
Solano; (64) Darigua; (65) Murtajao; (66) Carutico; (67) Santa Lucia.
carbonized wood and nuts of a least two palm tree species. In the component
B, another charcoal-rich hearth was exposed, associated with quartz flakes
and shavings from wood-working. The charcoal from one of the hearths gave
a radiocarbon date of 9020 b.r ? 100 years (Beta 22638), while the charcoal
fragments from a test-pit yielded a date of 9210 b.r ? 120 years. These are
the oldest dates on record for human occupation in Orinoquia. Unfortu
nately, the charcoal in component B could not be dated. Finally, the Pozo
Azul site was occupied in the Middle Holocene. A living floor was exposed
with quartz flakes, burned rocks, charcoal, and palm-nuts fragments. The ra
diocarbon date was 7010 b.r ? 190 years (Barse, 1990, p. 1380; 1995, p. 107).
These Preceramic components and their associated dates have allowed
the definition of the Atures tradition for the Archaic period in Orinoquia.
This tradition is made up of two periods: Atures I (9200-7000 b.r), which
includes flakes and scrapers associated with the initial adaptation to the
tropical forest, and Atures II (7000-4000 b.r), distinguished by the presence
of projectile points and flakes associated with adaptation to the savannas and
forests that emerged with the drier climate in the middle and late Holocene
(Barse, 1995, p. 108). Little is known about the way of life of these Archaic
societies in Orinoquia except that, based on site-locations, technological
characteristics, and chronology, they probably pursued a broad-spectrum,
collecting, hunting, and fishing economy adapted to the surrounding savan
nas and forests, and may have been grouped in bands. To Barse, the origin
of the Atures tradition should be sought in the Archaic complexes of the
Early post-Pleistocene from the Bogota* plateau. Besides the chronological
and technological similarities, these complexes are located near the Guaviare
and Meta headwaters, that cross the eastern plains and flow into the Orinoco.
The presence of howler monkeys (Alouatta sp.), peccary (Tayassuidae), and
otters (Lutra sp.) in preceramic sites in Nemoc6n (Bogota plateau), indicates
that the Archaic settlers (7000-6000 b.r) were familiar with the exploitation
of lowland resources (Barse, 1995, p. 112; Bray, 1984, p. 313; Correal, 1979,
p. 122). These findings indicate the great antiquity of two typical Orinoquia
patterns: the exploitation of different ecological zones and the connection
between the highlands and the lowlands.
The ceramic sequence ranges between 3500 and 720 b.r The first ceramic
complex, Galipero, was identified at the site of Pozo Azul Sur, which consist
in a living floor with a small hearth. The collection consisted of potsherds and
hyaline quartz flakes similar to those of the Archaic period. The ceramics
were tempered with small clay pellets, and lacked decoration. They may be
related to the Cedenoid series of the Middle Orinoco River.
The second phase, Isla Barrancas, has sand-tempered ceramics, with
forms such as flanged hemispheric bowls and flanged plates with hollow
rims, red painting, simple incision, modeled-incised buttons or nubbins, and
In 1957, Evans, Meggers, and Cruxent carried out the first archaeological
survey south of the Atures rapids, in the drainage of the Orinoco-Ventuari
Manapiare Rivers. The archaeological materials recovered from the region
were divided in two phases: Nericagua and Corobal. The Nericagua phase
was present at 17 sites, including two possible ceremonial sites, distributed
along the Lower Ventuari, the Orinoco, and the Atabapo Rivers. Most of
the sites were on the river banks, and had areas ranging from 50 to 400 m in
diameter; they were interpreted as villages. At Sitio Martinez (Am-4), a pos
sible village plan could be detected, consisting of a series of refuse mounds
around a central plaza. Two roughly shaped granite pillars were interpreted
as sites of a ritual nature. Nericagua phase ceramics consist of simple bowls
and jars, tempered with caraipe and decorated with incision, modeling, and
negative painting. The associated dates range between 1159 b.r ? 122 years
and 544 b.r ?113 years.
The Corobal phase was present at 11 sites along the Manapiare and
Upper Ventuari Rivers. Cultural deposits are thinner than those of the
Nericagua phase, and site sizes could be defined in only two cases: one
measured about 20 m in diameter, whereas the other exceeded 300 m. There
were no stone pillars or stone alignments. The ceramics are simple bowls and
jars tempered with crushed rock. The decoration consists mostly of applique
nubbins, fillets with incised, finger-impressed or punctated tops, and zoomor
phic ornaments, with very elaborate superstructures, suggesting headdresses
or supernatural beings. Dates were not reported, but the size and depth of
the deposits reflect shorter occupations than those of the Nericagua phase
(Evans etal, 1959).
In 1986, Wagner and Arvelo described the Monou-Teri complex, based
on materials collected in 1969 near the mouth of the Mavaca River, a tribu
tary of the Upper Orinoco River. The ceramics are tempered principally with
caraipe or crushed rock. Decoration is rare and consists of incision and ap
plique. Fragments of ceramic griddles and polished stone axes and hatchets
point to a subsistence based on vegeculture. The associated radiocarbon
dates range from 1010 b.r ? 70 years (IVIC-573) to 500 b.r ? 170 years
(IVIC-574). The material bears similarities to some aspects of the Valloid
and Arauquinoid series and to the Nofurei phase of Araracuara region in
Colombia (Wagner and Arvelo, 1986).
In 1985, Zucchi designed a large-scale project to examine settlement
patterns in the black- and white-water rivers of the Upper Orinoco, in or
der to test the essential elements of Lathrap's model. In 1970, Lathrap pro
posed the Negro-Casiquiare-Orinoco Rivers as the main migratory route
used by the bearers of the Saladoid and Barrancoid ceramic traditions, per
taining to the Arawak linguistic stock, from the Middle Amazon River to
the Antilles. Nevertheless, until about 20 years ago, the region's archaeology
was practically unknown (Lathrap, 1970, p. 127; Vidal, 2000b, p. 10; Zucchi,
1991a, p. 1).
Zucchi and Morales modelled the differences between the settlement
patterns of black- and white-water rivers, based on ethnographic data. Along
white-water rivers, houses were nucleated in large villages near the river.
Resource-exploitation took place in the nearby forests and riverbanks, which
required little mobility. This pattern can be characterized as riparian, forest
oriented, and nucleated. By contrast, in the black-water rivers, the pattern
was of a central village and secondary dwellings dispersed along the tribu
tary streams (canos), for the exploitation of seasonal resources located at
considerable distances from the village. This pattern is thus riparian and
forest-oriented, but extensive and discontinuous (Zucchi, ms.; Zucchi and
Morales, 1991, pp. 386-406).
Zucchi's survey of the Orinoco, Atabapo, Negro, Ventuari, and
Casiquiare Rivers and several minor tributaries revealed 36 pre- and posthis
panic sites (Zucchi, 1991a,b; 1999, pp. 27-28). On the basis of the ceramics,
Zucchi proposed seven cultural subareas.
and Cano San Miguel, in the Guainia River basin. They studied the pro
cess by which three contemporary indigenous groups, Banivas, Curripacos,
and Warekenas, occupied and endowed a sense of place on the landscape
through the processes of adapting history and making places through myth
and rituals (Basso, 1996, p. 6; Ruette, 1998; Vail, 1998). Hence, the myth
ical and historical narratives attached to the landscape stemmed from an
interpretation of the past through which the landscape acquired meaning.
Moreover, the place-making role of these narratives has a political and ritual
dimension, exercised by the dominant sectors of society (Zucchi et al, 2001,
pp. 91-92).
These ethnographic narratives make it obvious that we need to know
much more about the sociopolitical organization of the northeast Amazonian
groups, their late prehistory and early history. Most of these groups have
been traditionally classified as marginal or tribal. Recent works by White
head and Vidal have contributed new data that challenge those classifica
tions, but may also overcorrect them. For Vidal, the indigenous societies were
grouped into intra- and inter-regional confederations called Amerindian po
litical macrosystems. Economic specialization and exchange networks sus
tained these polities (Vidal, 1993, p. 34). Vidal has described the general
characteristics of the main macrosystems at the time of Contact: Manoa,
Gran Airico, Huyapari, Aruaki, Tapajoso, Caripuna, Conori, Oniguayal,
Machiparo, and Paricora. These units were distributed across the vast area
between the Orinoco and Amazon Rivers. Although the size of their terri
tories varied, they had a similar level of integration higher than the indepen
dent village and the regional polity. They had developed hereditary political
hierarchies, wherein power could be of a political, military, or religious na
ture, or a combination of these. Their characteristics are summarized by
Vidal as (1) multiethnicity?that is, the existence of different ethnic units in
the same sociopolitical system; (2) sociopolitical hierarchies; (3) economic
specialization and production of surpluses; (4) socioeconomic interdepen
dence between riparian and hinterland groups; (5) clearly defined territo
ries, with buffer zones, and military posts for monitoring and defense. As in
the complex societies of the llanos, leadership and authority were based on
control over the labor force. The dynamics of power were defined by access to
and competition for labor destined for the production of surplus, construc
tion of infrastructures, incursions and territorial expansion. It is probable
that the widespread use of terms such as maku,poito, wajdriwa, to designate
the "servants," "slaves," and hinterland peoples was a result of such cen
tralized leadership and authority (Vidal, 1993, pp. 34-35; Whitehead, 1994,
p. 41). Another key aspect was extensive networks of intergroup and inter
regional exchange, which led to considerable interaction with and knowl
edge of distant regions and groups. Trade networks and political alliances
and that the conflicting conditions of low population density, the subsis
tence system, and the need for defense led to dispersed and autonomous
settlements, and also to interdependent settlements. These contradictory
demands from the adaptive ecological system allow us to understand the
observed pattern (Zent, 1998, p. 259).
The impact of iron tools in other aboriginal economies has been also
studied. According to Colchester, the introduction of iron artifacts into
the Yanomami economy in the twentieth century had a major impact on
their agriculture and settlement patterns. He saw the eighteenth-century
Yanomami as basically interfluvial foragers, who supplemented their subsis
tence with small and widely scattered cultivated plots. After the introduction
of iron, the Yanomami became more sedentary, with bigger agricultural plots,
larger settlements and less mobility (Colchester, 1984, pp. 308-310). Simi
lar conclusions were reached by Good, who observed that the prehispanic
Yanomami were fundamentally foragers, and that the frequency of move
ment decreased after the introduction of iron (Good, 1995, pp. 118-119).
Such studies indicate the pressing need for more archaeological investiga
tion in the interfluvial zones of the state of Amazonas.
Fig. 5. Middle Orinoco area. (1) Corozal; (2) Camoruco; (3) La Gruta; (4) Parmana; (5)
Ronquin; (6) Cedeno; (7) Cabruta; (8) Capuchino; (9) Aguerito; (10) La Rompia; (11)
Tucuragua; (12) Cueva de los Indios; (13) Cueva del Chorro de Barraguan; (14) Cueva 2
del Chorro de Barraguan; (15) Cueva del Boqueron de las Yeguas; (16) Cueva del Arestinal
de Payaraima; (17) Cueva Piedra de los Monos; (18) Cueva de Juan Castillo; (19) Abrigo
del Cerro Morrocoy; (20) Abrigo del Cerro las Peonias; (21) Cueva del Cerro las Pifias; (22)
Abrigo de la Piedra del Indio; (23) Cueva pintada 1; (24) Cueva pintada 2; (25) Cueva del los
Muertos; (26) Cueva del Santo; (27) Cueva 2 del Santo; (28) Cueva 3 del Santo; (29) Cueva
del Cerro Tasajera del Ore; (30) Cueva 2 del Cerro Tasajera del Ore; (31) Cueva del Cerro
Gavilan; (32) Cueva Susude Inava; (33) Cueva del Cafio Ore; (34) Cementerio Piaroa de El
Carmen; (35) Sitio El Carmen 2; (36) Cueva El Carmen 3; (37) Cueva Piedra Mapoyo; (38)
Cueva de Santa Fe o Redinu Inawa.
manioc. Coroza
similarities to
pp. 431-433). V
the Middle Ori
moment of Con
Although in the A
that suggest centr
of public interest
is not enough to d
of social organizat
villages, emergenc
production of sum
products and exot
seem to correspon
of life. (Vargas, 1
The B-C ware does not seem to represent distinct social units, but
variations of one or another of its main components. This pottery uses a
mixed temper of cauixi, clay, and sand, and has forms similar to the B and C
wares, suggesting the exchange of production techniques among their makers
(Zucchi et aL91984, p. 162).
The D ware is always associated with the late Arauquinoid material.
It has a reddish paste tempered with crushed rock, and the main vessel
forms are open bowls, closed-mouth vessels, and globular vessels with tubu
lar necks. Decoration is relatively scarce, and is limited to bands of incised
applique, zoomorphic modeling, and incised linear designs. This ware ap
peared in almost all the upper levels of the sites reported by Zucchi and was
the basis for the new Valloid series, having timespan of950-450 b.p. Tarble and
Zucchi have suggested that its makers were related to the western Guiana
Carib linguistic subgroup (Tarble and Zucchi, 1984, pp. 443-444).
Analyses of the ceramics from the Middle Orinoco allowed Zucchi and
others to propose a sequence of four occupational episodes for Agiierito. At
the beginning of the Period 1 (ca. 2950 b p.) the site was probably occupied
by makers of the Early B ware, whose subsistence was based on hunting,
fishing, gathering, and perhaps incipient agriculture; later, there was a coex
istence (alternating or seasonal occupations) of the makers of A and B wares.
Period 2 (ca. 1550 b.r) was characterized by the occupation of Agiierito by
the makers of A and B wares. Toward 1350 b.r, a very simple and intrusive
complex of cawm-tempered pottery appeared at Agiierito. The evidence of
close contacts among groups is so strong as perhaps to indicate multiethnic
villages. Period 3 (950 b.r) was characterized by the prevalence of C-ware
potters, a sudden change in decorative modes, and an increase in trade. Pe
riod 4 (750-550 b.r) saw the coexistence of the C and D wares that could
represent two different ethnic groups. The limited range of forms of D ware
could indicate that it was a trade ware (Zucchi et al, 1984, p. 179).
Lathrap and Oliver criticized the model of four occupations at Agiierito,
and saw it as merely the mixing of heterogeneous materials within the B ware.
Inspection of the associated C14 dates led them to propose multiple depo
sitional contexts and to favor a model of small refuse accumulations that is
characteristic of tropical forest societies (Lathrap and Oliver, 1987, p. 279).
Instead, they distinguish an early Agiierito complex/style within the B ware,
characterized by fiber temper, fine-line incised decorative motifs, carinated
bowls with black and red painting on white, which was supposedly associated
with two dates of 5680 b.r ? 165 years (Gx-5181) and 5425 B.P. ? 195 years
(1-10009). Although Zucchi and others do not fully discount this early com
ponent, they reject the idea of so early a polychrome complex based on such
a small sample, and suggest that it was probably the result of exchange with
the western llanos (Boomert, 2000, p. 110; Zucchi et al91984, p. 176).
Barragudn region (Tarble, 1990; 1994). One of her most interesting results
was the definition of criteria for the location of prehispanic settlements. Ar
chaeological data were examined using ecological, ethnohistorical, ethno
graphical, and archaeological criteria. At the theoretical level, Tarble be
gan with a critique of functionalist conceptions of the relationship between
nature and society that emphasize only the use of the space. Instead, her
holistic approach combines the processual (action and use) and the struc
tural (conception and meaning) (Hodder, 1986; Tarble, 1990, p. 32; 1993,
p. 141). Consequently, in the Barraguan region, the primary criteria corre
spond to people's material needs: the spatial and temporal distribution of
resources such as water, agricultural lands, localities for settlement, hunting,
fishing, and gathering. Second are criteria associated with communication
and defence. In the riverine area, the absence of defensive structures im
plies that there may have been political control at the regional level, while
the concealed locations of the hinterland settlements could be a response
to warfare, including the avoidance of contact with other Amerindian or
European groups. The differences in settlement density between the two
sectors seem to support the latter interpretation (Tarble, 1990, p. 64). In ad
dition, there are ideological criteria, including the reciprocal relationship of
society/nature and the division of the universe into male/female and secular/
sacred principles (Tarble, 1993, p. 154). Tarble suggested that even if a specific
locality fulfilled natural and social criteria, it could still have been rejected
because of "supernatural" criteria (Tarble, 1990, p. 61).
Tarble et al. (1994) pursued the study of cultural perceptions of the
Middle Orinoco landscape beyond prehispanic times. The perceptions of the
Indians, of the missionaries from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries,
and of the travelers and explorers from the nineteenth century contrasted
sharply according to their ideologies, objectives, and needs. Although this
seems self-evident, historians and anthropologists have used these historical
sources regardless of their provenience, thus distorting in some instances
interpretations about aboriginal history, demography, economy, and settle
ment patterns (Tarble et al, 1994, pp. 166-167).
Since 1990, Scaramelli and Tarble have concentrated their attention on
caves and rockshelters in the area between Puerto Ayacucho and Caicara
del Orinoco. Continuing her study of the ritual aspects of caves and rock
shelters, Tarble has identified a possible dichotomy between the sacred and
the profane spheres and in the associated Arauquinoid and Valloid ceramics.
This distinction coincides with a gender-based difference in access to esoteric
knowledge and participation in ritual activities, which gave males a power
advantage over females (Tarble, 1991, p. 161).
At the site of Punta Cedeno, Caicara del Orinoco, Rivas found indica
tions of a possible Arawakan origin of petroglyphs with elements related
Until recently, the Preceramic period in the Lower Orinoco was rel
atively unknown, and there were only some finds of isolated artifacts and
surface remains related to this time period (Dupouy, 1958,1960). Cruxent
identified two Preceramic complexes in a hypothetical chronological se
quence. The first one, Tupuquen, consists of a unifacial industry of basalt
flake-cores and flakes located at the confluence of the Cuyuni and Yuruari
Rivers in Bolivar State. This industry could have been related to the so-called
Flake Tradition (Boomert, 2000, p. 47; Cruxent, 1972, p. 32; Willey, 1971).
The second one, Canaima, was located in the savannas to the west of Salto
de la Hacha, Upper Carom River, and consists of a bifacial industry char
acterized by triangular stemmed spearheads, flat bifacially worked knives,
convex scrapers and hammerstones. Comparable materials from northern
South America have been dated to the late Pleistocene and the early
Holocene, that is, around 11,000 b.p. (Boomert, 2000, pp. 50-51; Cruxent,
1972; Rouse and Cruxent, 1963, pp. 34,47-48).
There is not yet any evidence of early human impact on the land
scape. Rinaldi and Schubert obtained peat-bog samples near Santa Cruz
de Mapauri, a town at the southeast of La Gran Sabana, Bolivar State. An
initial date of 8970 b.p. ? 90 years and paleoecological analysis indicate that
grasses were the predominant vegetation during the Holocene. There was
Fig. 6. Lower Orinoco area. (1) Saladero; (2) Barrancas; (3) Los Barrancos; (4) Guarguapo;
(5) Apostadero; (6) Esmeralda; (7) El Charal; (8) Pta de Piedra; (9) Pta Cabrian; (10) Pta
Mariches; (11) Pta Tizadero; (12) Pta Morocoto; (13) Macapaima; (14) El Pailon; (15) Los
Culises; (16) Mamonal; (17) s.n.; (18) El Elefante; (19) Banador; (20) Mora; (21-25) s.n.; (26)
Barabina; (27) N-ll; (28) N-16; (29) Korabo Point; (30) N-8; (31) N-10, (32) N-9; (33) N-6.
There are data available from neighboring regions of the Orinoco Delta,
such as the Aruka River (a tributary of the Barima River in Guyana), where
the domestication and processing of edible roots and tubers appear about
4000 b.r In this region, the early Archaic is known from the Barambina
Hills site and the Koriabo Point shell-midden. Based on archaeological data,
ethnographic analogies, and landscape modification, Williams recreates a
hypothetical scenario for the early Archaic, which began with clearings in
the tropical forests for early cultivation (chablis), and the appearance of
shell-middens on the coast. These resulted in changes in the microclimate,
plant phenology, and the physical and chemical characteristics of the soils,
which would led to the creation of conditions suitable for plant manipula
tion and cultivation. Plants included palm trees such as Mauritia flexuosa
and Manicaria saccifera, cane-like shrubs (Ichnosiphon sp.) and coloring
material such as onotto (Bixa orellana sp.), which is represented indirectly
by use-wear on bone artifacts and the remains of red paint adhering to
ground stone surfaces. The traditional Warao Indians of the Delta make
extensive use of palms, including the extraction of palm sago or yuruma,
and can be related to the late styles of the Arauquinoid series. Although
decoration is scarce, it includes faces with coffee-bean eyes, appliqu6 bands,
and incised geometric designs.
The Apostadero site was at the lower end of the same bank as the
site of Los Barrancos. The Apostadero style (550 b.r) seemed to be an in
trusive, but discrete, style that coexisted with Guarguapo. The pottery is
grit-tempered; vessel-forms are simple, and bowls are more prevalent than
jars. The material has similarities to certain complexes of Guyana, and to
ceramics from Corobal, Tencua and other sites in the Upper Orinoco area,
described above. It could be related to the Valloid series, since the associ
ation of wares tempered with cauixi and grit or crushed rock is common
throughout the Orinoco Basin during the Late Period (Tarble and Zucchi,
1984, p. 438).
In 1968, Sanoja and Vargas began research in the Lower Orinoco area.
They returned to the site of Saladero, where they carried out excavations, and
later located and tested other sites as well. Their aim was to refine Cruxent's
and Rouse's hypothesis regarding the origins and dispersion of the Saladoid
and Barrancoid series, as well as to reconstruct Barrancoid ways of life,
so as to give a fuller perspective of the region's prehistory (Sanoja, 1979,
pp. 25-30). Contrary to Rouse and Roosevelt, who maintain that Saladoid
and Barrancoid ceramics have a common origin in La Gruta style, Sanoja
proposed that the bearers of the Ronquinoid tradition came from the Middle
Orinoco to the Lower Orinoco around the beginning of the Christian era.
Consequently, Sanoja rejects the precedence of the Saladero style in the
Lower Orinoco sequence. According to him, the Saladoid pottery from the
site of Saladero belongs to Los Barrancos style (Classic Barrancas) and is
therefore more recent (Boomert, 2000, p. 105; Rouse, 1978, pp. 209-214;
Sanoja, 1979, pp. 284-285; Vargas, 1979, p. 224).
On the basis of his reexcavation of the site of Saladero, Sanoja es
tablished the Barrancas tradition, which is composed of two phases: The
Barrancas phase, present at the sites of Saladero, Coporito, and Mamonal;
and the Macapaima phase, present at the sites of Los Culises, El Pail6n,
and Macapaima. Although Sanoja concurs generally with the sequence of
Barrancoid styles defined by Cruxent and Rouse, he differs over the chronol
ogy and meaning of the stylistic changes, and notes that limiting ourselves to
stylistic analyses provides a very restricted view of the development of these
societies. For this reason, Sanoja has defined a series of periods of historical
social development for the Barrancas tradition, called the Preclassic Period
(900-600 b.c.?a.d. 100-400) (2850-2550 b.p. to 1850-1550 b.r), the Classic Pe
riod (a.d. 200-400-a.d. 700), and the Postclassic Period (a.d. 700-1000-a.d.
1600-1700). This sequence corresponds to three general stages of develop
ment: a Formative stage with sedentary village farming, followed by a stage
as well as for their symbolic content. Boomert has proposed that the Lower
Orinoco interaction sphere served to promote political alliances based on
kinship ties and ritual services, and that the exchange of goods, energy and
information, in the form of myths, tales, songs, dances, news, and knowledge,
was likely of key importance for the maintenance of the sphere (Boomert,
2000, pp. 442^44).
In the late prehistory of the area, there are major contradictions be
tween the archaeological and ethnohistorical records. For some researchers,
historical data from the Lower Orinoco seem to indicate great cultural com
plexity, interethnic relationships, and some level of social stratification whose
extent is poorly understood. Using historical, ethnographic, and toponymic
data, Heinen has documented the existence of an impressive trade route
from perhaps as far north as Trinidad and extending via the southeastern
Delta across the Sierra de Imataca to the Guayana highlands. There are nu
merous archaeological sites in the deltaic part of this trade system (Heinen,
1992, pp. 73-75; Heinen et al., 2001). Boomert suggests that the geographical
situation of Los Barrancos complex is similar to that of Aruacay, an indige
nous, sixteenth-century village identified as a gateway community that could
have played an important role in the network of multiethnic interaction ob
served at Contact (Boomert, 2000, p. 386). It is also noteworthy that the
cultural diversity emerging from historical documents contrasts sharply with
the much simpler archaeological view, which is based on two ceramic styles:
the Guayabitan style (Arauquinoid), equivalent to the Apostadero style or
Barrancas Postclassic, and the Mayoid style, which consists of protohistoric
ceramics (Boomert, 2000, pp. 491-493).
Other scholars favor a reconstruction of these societies that emphasizes
their political affiliations and degree of complexity. Whitehead has proposed
that around 450 b.r there were several Amerindian macrosystems, or mul
tiethnic confederations or chiefdoms, in the Amazon and Orinoco Basins.
He sees these macrosystems as characterized by a remarkable sociocultural
and political complexity, generated by the integration of different ethnic
units (Whitehead, 1994, pp. 38-41). Whitehead has found evidence of at
least three chiefdoms at the beginning of the sixteenth century, those of Yao,
Orinoqueponi, and Tivetive, which could be seen as typical or even max
imal chiefdoms, composed of more than 10,000 people (Whitehead, 1998,
p. 155). Chiefly power derived from control over long-distance trade, partic
ularly in gold and cotton artifacts, plus control over local natural resources
and the labor force. The discovery of a gold pectoral in the Mazaruni valley
in Guyana has been seen as evidence of long-distance trade with Colom
bian chiefdoms and intermediary societies such as the Achagua, but it also
could support historical accounts of local production, trade, and use of gold
artifacts (Whitehead, 1990, pp. 32-33; 1996, p. 127).
the isolated ethnic groups one finds today in the Guiana Highlands and the Orinoco
Delta are a far cry from the complex trade patterns and the differentiated forms of
social and political organization that was characteristic of aboriginal Orinoco River
societies. (Heinen and Garcfa-Castro, 2000, p. 561)
The purpose of this essay has been to assess the current status of archae
ology in Orinoquia. Although the investigations and interpretations are very
uneven in their intent, content, and quality, there are some common trends
structuring contemporary research in the area. These are
different types of data, but rather indicate that we have to work more closely
with linguists, historians, ethnographers, and the indigenous people. In this
sense, the research in the Middle and Upper Orinoco, where native views
about placement (Chernela, 1993, p. 73) and oral traditions have been used
to understand aboriginal landscapes and material culture, seems to be par
ticularly promising. However, we need to go beyond the uncritical export of
contemporary interpretations into the prehispanic past, toward the creation
of a local ethnoarchaeology and an informed archaeology capable of using
ethnographic information to set up hypotheses about ancient sociocultural
systems, and then testing those hypotheses against the archaeological record.
Contrary to the traditional view of Orinoquia as an area inhabited
largely by egalitarian societies, we now have abundant evidence of com
plex societies. However, it is not easy to classify the diverse forms of po
litical organization that emerged here. Although categories such as tribes
and chiefdoms have allowed us to depart from the narrow confines of ce
ramic typologies, reliance upon them has also brought new problems, since
the variation observable in the archaeological and ethnohistorical record is
obscured when it is defined within such broad categories. To classify ancient
societies simply as "tribes" or "chiefdoms" is insufficient to explain the dy
namics of local social evolution. For instance, it is difficult to interpret the
relationship between religious specialists and the common people of Andean
Orinoquia within the conventional evolutionary typologies. Two opposing
scenarios have been proposed for the Middle Orinoco. One supports the ex
istence of chiefdoms, based on the differences in settlement patterns, while
the other is sceptical because of the absence of other archaeological indi
cators of chiefdoms. This scepticism, however, does not apply to the Lower
Orinoco, where the presence of chiefdoms has been based mainly on historic
data. The existence of the so-called "Aboriginal Political Macro-Systems" in
the Upper and Lower Orinoco is problematical, not only because the lack
of archaeological correlates, but also because ideas about their extent and
complexity contradict what we know about prestate societies (e.g., Spencer,
1982, pp. 6-7; 1987, p. 375; Wright, 1984, pp. 50-51). In addition, some histo
rians and ethnographers have questioned the methodology used to interpret
the historic sources. One could ask if, in the absence of historic data, those
societies would have been identified as chiefdoms at all (Heinen and Garcia
Castro, 2000, p. 561; Perera, 2000, p. 104). Here lies the importance of the
research being carried out in the western llanos of the state of Barinas. The
identification of prehispanic chiefdoms in that region of Orinoquia is based
on archaeological investigation of a long-term sequence of development at
the regional scale of analysis, instead of the reconstruction of a society in a
specific period. In sum, questions of a typological nature such as whether a
particular society is a chiefdom or a tribe are simply useless and will reduce
our range of ideas and hypotheses. To ask how complex was this society,
what was the nature of its leaders, and how were the different sectors in
tegrated within the society can be much more fruitful than trying to fit a
particular society within a typology. The establishment of processual, long
term, and regional studies is one of the most pressing needs in Orinoquian
archaeology.
In relation to research on the Contact period, it is of great interest to
observe the contrasting views that archaeologists and ethnohistorians have
about Orinoquia's past (Perera, 2000, p. 110). While most archaeologists see
Orinoquia as having been dominated by complex societies, most ethnohis
torians see small-scale societies instead (Upham, 1990, pp. 3-6). Certainly,
one way be which we can advance our understanding of Orinoquian so
cieties in the prehispanic and historic past will be the study of systems of
interaction interregionally and diachronically. It is important that ethnohis
torians and archaeologists speak to each other. To emphasise archaeology
or ethnohistory alone as an approach to Orinoquia's past will not be ad
equate. In this sense, and as noted above, the evolutionary approach pre
ferred by most archaeologists, with its emphasis on a few basic types, seems
to have obscured the picture of the Basin's aboriginal history. On the other
hand, some specialists seem to prescribe documents as the main source to
study the past, while underestimating the main advantage of archaeology?
its time-depth. As Drennan and Uribe noted, ethnohistoric information can
be most useful when it is effectively linked to archaeological information
(Drennan and Uribe, 1987, p. vii), which does not necessarily mean that
archaeological information has a special status over other classes of his
toric data. Whitehead has emphasized the need to go beyond the archae
ological record in seeking to understand Orinoquia's ancient sociopoliti
cal organizations (Whitehead, 1998, p. 150). However, this does not mean
that ancient sociopolitical formations can be studied without regard for
the early historical period, since the process of colonization created eco
nomic and sociopolitical variables never before seen in the aboriginal New
World.
The thin archaeological coverage of Orinoquia remains an important
issue. There are entire periods, social formations, regions, states, and depart
ments where archaeological information is scant or nonexistent. The lack
of information about hunters, gatherers, and fishers in the llanos and the
Middle Orinoco seems to be an artifact of both their relative archaeological
invisibility and the absence of research directed to them. In terms of geo
graphical areas, without doubt, the Colombian and Venezuelan piedmont is
the region in most need of investigation. Research in the eastern Colombian
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In the first place, I wish to thank Alberta Zucchi, Kay Tarble, Elsa
Redmond, Charles Spencer, and H. Dieter Heinen for giving me the op
portunity to participate, at different stages of my academic formation, in
their research projects in Portuguesa, Barinas, and in the Upper, the Mid
dle, and the Lower Orinoco River. Many thanks are due to Elsa Redmond,
who not only put the original manuscript into a readable English, but also
made valuable suggestions of style and presentation; Ana Maria Gomez,
who carefully revised all absolute dates; and Juan Carlos Rey, who skill
fully made all the maps, except the first, which is courtesy of Xiomara
Escalona. I received books, articles, and/or comments from Ana Maria
Boada, Betty Meggers, Linda Perry, Elsa Redmond, Erika Wagner, Alberta
Zucchi, Alvaro Baquero, Arie Boomert, H. Dieter Heinen, Rodrigo
Navarrete, Miguel Angel Perera, Alejandro Reig, Carlos Sanchez, Franz
Scaramelli, Charles Spencer, Jorge Tovar, and Stanford Zent. Special thanks
to Angela E. Close for her patience and understanding. As usual, the inter
pretations stated here are my sole and exclusive responsibility.
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