Soro Mik'aya Patjxa

Soro Mik'aya Patjxa is a significant archaeological site situated in the Ilave Basin, Peru, west of Lake Titicaca. This high-altitude site was primarily occupied by hunter-gatherers over a period of more than a millennium, starting around 6800 BCE. The site features a single cultural layer and includes 13 excavated pits. Over 80,000 artifacts, including flaked lithics, bones, ground stones, and intrusive ceramic sherds, have been recovered. The presence of human remains, with evidence of intentional cranial modification, suggests permanent high-altitude habitation. Dietary analysis indicates reliance on hunting large mammals and plant consumption. The genome sequencing of an individual from the site reveals genetic links to modern Andean populations and Siberian affinity. Soro Mik'aya Patjxa provides crucial insights into early human adaptation and survival in challenging environments.