Resumen

LOPEZ MENDOZA, Patricio. LATE PLEISTOCENE EXTINCT MAMMAL TAPHONOMY FROM THE SEMIARID SUBTROPICAL COAST (IVREGION-32° S): CULTURAL AND PALEOECOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS. Chungará (Arica) [online]. 2007, vol.39, n.1, pp. 69-86. ISSN 0717-7356.  doi: 10.4067/S0717-73562007000100005.

Here ¡present a taphonomic analysis of extinct fauna from three archaeological and paleontological sites (LV'268, LV'017, LV 100) near Los Vilos along coastal semiarid Chile. These sites show a complex history of formation processes owing to the strong erosive action of wind resulting in deflation of Pleistocene soil profiles. This has resulted in an amalgamation of several different paleontological and archaeological events on the present day surface. The extinct faunal assemblage that includes Palaeolama, Equus (Amerhippus), mylodonts and edentates reveals that part of the remains were deposited by the action of large carnivores. Other evidence suggests human exploitation of Palaeolama possibly through scavenging

Palabras clave : Taphonomy; megafauna; Late Pleistocene; Los Vilos; semiarid; Chile.