The Chobshi culture Belongs to the archaeological site located in the foothills of Cerro Huallil, in the province of Azuay, Ecuador.
Chobshi is an important historical site as it is one of the oldest finds in this country.
In this cave have been found samples of the presence of the first Ecuadorian men, turning it in such a way as one of the emblematic sites of paleo-indian and culturally located in the pre-ceramic era.
Geography
The archaeological site of Chobshi is located on one of the walls of the Puente Seco ravine on the left bank of the Santa Bárbara River, Sigsig canton 62 km from Cuenca, capital of the province of Azuay.
It limits to the north with the cantons of Chordeleg and Gualaceo, to the west with the city of Cuenca, to the south with the parish of Chigüinda and to the east with Limón Indaza. Is located at an average altitude of 2498 m.r.n.m. With an average annual temperature of 15 ° C.
In the zone can be appreciated three types of climates:
- Cantonal and valley center: Mesothermal and semi-humid climate. Temperature 12 to 18 ° C.
- Plateau: Temperate humid climate. Temperature 12 to 18 ° C.
- Cordillera: Cold climate. Temperature from 6 to 16 ° C.
In addition, the main rivers near the archaeological zone are Santa Bárbara and Bolo Palmar.
Preceramic period
This period refers to the first human settlements in the Andean area of South America that preceded the introduction of pottery. The first humans to arrive at this territory are called Paleo-Indians and generally this period is also known as the lithic stage.
In Ecuador the pre-ceramic is believed to have begun around 9000 BC. Until 4200 BC. According to researcher Jeffrey Quitter, Ecuador shows dense occupations in the highlands that until now have not been demonstrated in Peru or Bolivia.
This moment fits within the Holocene as a new climatic period with new fauna characteristics. The megafauna of the Pleistocene has already disappeared, as well as the ancestors of the present species.
In general, the man lives with the fauna that we can find in the site today that is today.
Chronology
The carbon tests applied on the remains found in Chobshi indicate an antiquity that goes from the year 10,000 A.C. Until the year 8000 BC.
In this way, this site represents a point of the history between the Paleo-Indian and significant events like the specialization of the hunting.
Black Cave of Chobshi
The Black Cave of Chobshi is a site that was studied extensively by researchers Thomas Lynch and SusanPollock of the United States and Gustavo Reinoso of Ecuador.
As a matter of note, of these investigations have been obtained lithic remains and fauna of Great importance , As well as artifacts made from these same materials.
The findings were buried at a depth of 10 and 20 cm from the soil surface. In addition, more than 40 types of lithic artifacts have been found such as lanceolate and pedunculated spearheads, knives, scrapers and buriles.
These utensils were manufactured mainly in horstene, which is a variety of flint and in turn have also recovered several pieces of obsidian, which are not possible to find in this place.
It is believed that these were imported from the north of the country at the end of the formative period by the inhabitants of the cave. This material became basic also for the manufacture of knives and other basic utensils, which have come to be grouped in up to 46 different groups.
These instruments allowed the obtaining of food through the whole process from the hunt, until the processing of meat and skin for its consumption.
The Chobshi Cave is also of great importance because of the number of animal species associated with the site that have been found.
These remains have been identified as belonging to a historical frame that goes from 8060 a.C. To 5585 a.C. And are exclusively related to animals related to the diet.
White-tailed deer ( Odocoileusvirginanus ) Is the species with the most evidence found, followed by pudu ( Pudumephistopheles ) And the rabbit ( Sylvilagusbrasilensis ).
The other animals found are of a variety that includes tapirs, opossums, mount guantas, spectacled bears and partridges.
Other species of animals found that do not correspond to the group of food resources are dogs ( Canisfamiliaris ) And wolves or foxes ( Dusycionsp. ).
It is known that along with groups of hunter-gatherers coming from Asia already included the domesticated dog. He represented a company in the hunting and surveillance activities of the camps.
Later archaeological findings
The site of Chobshi is a site of a complex of archaeological sites other than the Black Cave, which highlights the importance of the site in general for pre-Hispanic cultures.
Chobshi Castle
This place is located only 250 meters from the Black Cave. It is distributed in a rectangular construction of 110 meters of length, with 22 meters of width and 2.90 meters of height.
There is also a small annexed structure of 1.80 by 0.70 m in dimensions. The Cañari culture is responsible for the construction of this complex and was under the command of the cacique Duma who was the inhabitant of this place. This site dates from 1450 BC. To 500 d.C.
Shabalula
The Ingapirca of Shabalula is located 1.5 kilometers from the Black Cave. This site is a construction of boulders worked and joined with mortar to form rows.
The distribution of the same is circular with about 4.50 meters in diameter with 3.50 meters high and a corridor of about 2 meters wide. It is believed that this site was also owned by the Canaris.
Two lithic constructions have also been found that make reference to the road of the Inca and that communicated the city of Tomebamba with Sigsig and the Amazon during the Inca Empire.
References
- Autonomous Government Decentralized Municipal of Sígsig. About Sigsig. [Online] January 20, 2013. [Quoted on: March 17, 2017.] sigsig.gob.ec.
- Chobshi Cave in Retrospect. Lynch, Thomas F. 4, 1989, Andean Past, Vol. 2.
- Ancestral Ecuador. The early man of Ecuador. [Online] 2009. [Quoted on: March 17, 2017.] ecuador-ancestral.com.
- Usillos, Andrés Gutiérrez. Gods, Symbols and Food in the Andes. Quito: Ediciones Abya-Yala, 1998. 9978 22 28-4.
- Quito Adventure. CHOBSHI - AZUAY. [Online] [Quoted on: March 16, 2017.] quitoadventure.com.
- Luciano, Santiago Ontaneda. The Original Societies of Ecuador. Quito: Libresa, 2002.