Plant Consumption in the Northern Patagonian Archipelago (41–47° S, Chile) Since 6000 Years BP to Historical Times: An Integrative Vision Through Ceramic Use Residues and Human Dental Calculus

We evaluated plant trajectories in the northern Patagonian archipelago (41°–47° S) through various types of evidence (ceramic use residues and human dental calculus), temporally distinguishing between pre- and post-contact with horticultural groups (~1000 years BP), and later on, with European groups (sixteenth century), comparing and integrating the results obtained in the Chiloé and Chonos archipelagos. We present the scope of consumption of wild edible (strawberry, Chilean rhubarb, grasses) and medicinal/psychoactive (e.g., latúa, taique) and domesticated plants (e.g., beans, maize, potato), as well as seaweed. The changes and continuities in subsistence that occurred within these marine hunter-gatherers and fishing groups, that have a long marine tradition (since ~4500 cal years BP), would have been the consequence of the arrival and/or contact of new horticultural populations (~1700 cal years BP), and later, through European contact.