Wilamaya Patjxa

Wilamaya Patjxa is a significant archaeological site located in the Andean Altiplano within the Lake Titicaca Basin in Puno, Peru. Occupied approximately 9,000 years ago by mobile forager populations, it stands as the earliest directly dated evidence of human habitation in the region. The site, situated on a small hill spanning 1.6 hectares, lacks ceramics and permanent architecture, indicating a residentially mobile lifestyle. Key discoveries include burials of both a young-adult female and an adult male, interred with large-mammal hunting tools, challenging traditional views on gender roles in prehistoric societies. The site's faunal assemblage and stable isotope analysis reveal a predominantly plant-based diet. Wilamaya Patjxa provides critical insights into early human adaptation to high-altitude environments.