A tale of two colors: The preceramic soil horizons of Aeropuerto del Café (Palestina, Caldas, Colombia)

Abstract

Contract archaeology explorations in Aeropuerto del Café covered a block of land 3 km long and of varying widths, measuring 160 ha. In this area a remarkable number of preceramic sites, dated between 10.000 and 5.000 BP, have been explored. The soil horizons which developed in this period show marked differences in the content of lithic material and the intensity and kind of the human activities carried in them. These are reflected in their coloration, which is either very dark or a pale olive shade.