Pilauco Bajo
Archaeological site in Chile
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pilauco is a paleontological and archaeological site located in the city of Osorno in Southern Chile.[1] The site contains both human made lithic artifacts and megafauna remains–including gomphotheres.[1] All the horizons containing megafauna and evidence of human activity date to the late Pleistocene. The calibrated radiocarbon dates indicate there was human activity in the site between 16,400 and -12,800 cal years B.P.[1]
.jpg) Gomphothere models in Parque Pleistocénico de Osorno, a park inspired by the findings of Pilauco Bajo. | |
  Shown within Chile | |
| Location | Southern Chile |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°34′12″S 73°06′14″W |
| Type | open-air |
| History | |
| Associated with | [First American Settlers] |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 2007–present |
| Archaeologists | Mario Pino Quivira (leader) and others |
| Ownership | Bienes Nacionales de Chile |
| Management | Austral University of Chile and Ilustre Municipalidad de Osorno |
| Public access | Partial |
Most of the stone artifacts found in Pilauco are made of volcanic rock such as dacite, rhyodacite and rhyolite from the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle Volcanic Complex immediately east in the Andes. Yet these rocks were imported by humans to the site as nearby rivers have not transported it.[2]
