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This dissertation addresses how Paleoindians used the karst drainage of the Aucilla River in northwestern Florida during the Pleistocene/Holocene transition (approximately 15-10,000 14C yr B.P.). I take a geoarchaeological approach to discuss Paleoindian land use by first defining the Late Pleistocene and Holocene geological record, and then by creating a model of site formation processes in the Aucilla River. Both underwater and terrestrial fieldwork were performed. Underwater fieldwork consisted of hand-driven cores and surface survey, vibrocoring, underwater 1 x 1 m unit excavation, and controlled surface collection. Terrestrial fieldwork consisted of shovel and auger test pits. Seventeen cores were collected from five different submerged sinkhole sites, which were used to select two sites for further study: Sloth Hole (8JE121), which had been previously excavated, and Wayne's Sink (8JE1508/TA280), which was recorded but not formally investigated. Five vibrocores and two 1 x 1m units were used, with previous research, to define the geological and geoarchaeological context of Sloth Hole. Fifteen vibrocores, six 1 x 1 m excavation units, and ten 1 x 1 m surface collection units were used to define the geological, geoarchaeological, and archaeological context of Wayne's Sink. A combination of 130 shovel and auger test pits was used to define the geological, geoarchaeological, and archaeological potential of the terrestrial landscape. Five new Holocene-aged terrestrial sites were recorded. All of these data were evaluated with archival data from previously-excavated sites to create models of site formation and Paleoindian land use in the lower Aucilla Basin. This research shows that there have been four major periods of sinkhole infill in the lower Aucilla basin. The first occurred prior to the Last Glacial Maximum, with each sinkhole containing peat deposits that date in excess of 21,000 calendar years ago (cal B.P.). These peats are overlain by sandy colluvium that dates to approximately 14,500 cal B.P. The colluvium is overlain by clays that contain evidence for soil formation. These soils vary in age, with radiocarbon dates of approximately 14,500-10,000 cal B.P. These clays are directly overlain by peats dating to 5,000-3,500 cal B.P., which are overlain by peats and clays that date to 2,500-0 cal B.P. Intact Paleoindian and Early Archaic deposits are possible in the late Pleistocene soils.

In this article we review what is currently known about the early occupation of the southern Peruvian coast and highlands. We focus our review on the Terminal Pleistocene sites of Quebrada Jaguay and Quebrada Tacahuay (coast) and Pucuncho (highlands), and we compare them with the few other sites known from this period. We cover chronology, settlement pattern, specialization, and the interregional connections during this first period of human settlement. / En este artículo revisamos lo que se sabe en la actualidad acerca de la ocupación temprana de la costa y sierra del sur peruano. Enfocamos nuestro estudio en los sitios del Pleistoceno Final de Quebrada Jaguay y Quebrada Tacahuay, ubicados en la costa, y Pucuncho, situado en la sierra, y los comparamos con los pocos otros yacimientos conocidos de esta época. Tratamos la cronología, el patrón de asentamiento, la especialización y las conexiones interregionales de este primer período del asentamiento humano.

The earliest strata from Pikimachay Cave, the Pacaicasa and Ayacucho complexes has been one of the more controversial occupations of Terminal Pleistocene in the Central Andes. Due to the inconsistent presentation of findings, assumptions regarding the lithic and bone assemblages have been questioned. Therefore, a new review of these remains is required to assess the evidence in detail, because it is probably the earliest in the Central Andes. Preliminary results of these assemblages document lithic technologies and bones of the Ayacucho Complex, with probable anthropogenic cut marks, dated by radiocarbon correction between 15,781 to 14,886 cal BC. / Los estratos denominados complejos Pacaicasa y Ayacucho de la cueva de Pikimachay constituyen las ocupaciones más controversiales del Pleistoceno Final por contener, supuestamente, los restos de actividad humana más antiguos de los Andes Centrales. Debido a la pobre presentación de las evidencias en las escasas publicaciones que trataron del hallazgo, se puso en tela de juicio las presuntas herramientas líticas y óseas reportadas. Por consiguiente, se impuso una revisión de los restos con el objeto de evaluarlosen detalle. De manera específica, se pudieron examinar los restos guardados en el Museo de Arqueología y Antropología de la Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos y los resultados preliminares documentaron tecnologías líticas e, incluso, huesos conprobables huellas de corte antropogénico. La corrección radiocarbónica del fechado procedente del complejo Ayacucho arrojó un lapso entre 15.781 y 14.886 cal AC.