Archaeologists Found Butchered Gomphothere Bones in Chile
The 13,000-year-old findings confirm a hunter-gatherer presence in South America during the late Pleistocene epoch.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Geography
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Archaeologists uncovered gomphothere bones featuring human-made cut marks and associated stone tools at Lake Tagua Tagua in Chile. This discovery provides evidence that humans occupied the region 13,000 years ago.
Why it matters
This evidence adds to the chronology of human migration across South America. It provides a new data point for researchers mapping how early hunter-gatherer populations adapted to the continent's diverse ecosystems.
The recovered bone and artifact assemblage dates to between 12,000 and 13,000 years ago. This compares to other well-studied sites like Monte Verde, which dates back 14,500 years, and Huaca Prieta, which is approximately 14,000 years old.
The players
IPHES-CERCA
A research institution specializing in human paleoecology and social evolution through archaeological science.
The details
Researchers conducted excavations in the ancient lake basin at Lake Tagua Tagua over the past two years. The team identified clear cut marks on the gomphothere—a prehistoric relative of modern elephants—remains, indicating systematic butchery. Stone tools found in the same sediment layer alongside the animal remains provide direct evidence of human tool use at the site.
Timeline
13,000 years ago: Humans inhabited Lake Tagua Tagua.
12,000 to 13,000 years ago: Dating of the recovered bone and artifact assemblage.
Past two years: Period of recent archaeological excavations.
September 24, 2026: Publication of the IPHES-CERCA statement.
The Tech Race
This discovery sits within the ongoing effort to map the initial peopling of the Americas against established benchmarks like the Monte Verde site. It updates the regional record for southern Chile and tests existing models of how early populations navigated the continent.
Researchers are moving toward deeper analysis of the sediment layers to refine the dates of human arrival in this basin. Future studies will focus on determining the specific hunting and butchery techniques used by these early inhabitants.
The takeaway
The Lake Tagua Tagua findings refine our understanding of the timelines for human migration into South America. Watch for forthcoming analyses of the sediment samples that will help clarify the specific timeline of arrival and the range of hunter-gatherer activities in the region.
Further reading
For more context on how scientists map historical human movement, visit /science/geography/.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Livescience.
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