Archaeologists have discovered a 5.5 thousand-year-old settlement in Bolivia

People lived on the Bolivian island of Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca as early as about 3500 BC - several centuries earlier than previously thought. This was reported on March 19 in Arkeonews magazine.

At the center of the discovery is the archaeological site of Ch'uhukullu, excavated several decades ago, but only now truly studied thanks to modern radiocarbon dating methods. The analysis of charred organic remains from deep layers of the excavation using accelerator mass spectrometry showed that the first inhabitants appeared here between 3635 and 3381 BC. This makes Ch'uhukulla one of the oldest known settlements in the entire Titicaca Basin.

The discovery changes the perception of the level of technological development of the ancient inhabitants of the region. Geological evidence suggests that the island of Isla del Sol has never been connected to the mainland by land - even during periods of significant decrease in the water level in the lake. This means that the people who lived here around 3500 BC already knew how to build boats and cross open water. Thus, the settlement was not isolated: it was part of an extensive lake network of contacts.

Objects made of obsidian, quartz and various types of flint, materials that are not found on the island, were found on the monument. This indicates that long-distance trade networks were already operating at that time. Previously, archaeologists considered camel caravans overland to be the main engines of the early Andean exchange — new evidence indicates that waterways played a key role much earlier.

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A continuous sequence of cultural layers without significant interruptions indicates a long and regular use of one place. No permanent buildings were found, but the nature of the finds indicates an early form of semi-settlement. The resource—rich coastal area of Chalya Bay — with fish, poultry and edible plants - made this place ideal for re-settlement.

Fragments of ceramics in the layers of the monument date back to the 12th–10th centuries BC. The styles of the dishes found coincide with the mainland samples, which indicates the close cultural and technological ties of the island with the rest of the region.

Today, the island of Isla del Sol is known primarily as a sacred place of the Incas, associated with myths about the origin of the world. A new study shows that its importance goes back to a much more ancient past — long before the rise of the Andean empires, small groups of people were already crossing the waters of Titicaca, carrying tools, ideas and traditions.

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All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.