Biophysical conditions played a fundamental role in early human colonization of insular territories, particularly in food-producing societies dealing with limited resources and the challenges of maintaining a sustainable carrying capacity. Studies on past human colonization of small oceanic islands thus offer insights into economic plasticity, ecological impacts, and adaptation of early food-producing groups. On the coast of southern Chile, early evidence is dated to 950 cal BP of island colonization by coastal populations with mainland subsistence systems based on the exploitation of marine resources, along with gathering, managing, and cultivating plants and hunting terrestrial animals. Strikingly, the extent to which these mixed economies contributed to insular colonization efforts is largely unknown. Here we used organic residue analysis of ceramic artifacts to shed light on the subsistence of populations on Mocha Island in southern Chile. We extracted and analyzed lipids from 51 pottery sherds associated with the El Vergel cultural complex that flourished in southern Chile between 950 and 400 cal BP. Chemical and stable isotope analysis of the extracts identified a range of food products, including C3 and C4 plants and marine organisms. The results reveal the central role of mixed subsistence systems in fueling the colonization of Mocha Island.

中文翻译：

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通过有机残留物分析揭示岛屿经济：摩卡岛（智利南部）案例

生物物理条件在早期人类对岛屿领土的殖民化中发挥了重要作用，特别是在资源有限和维持可持续承载能力挑战的粮食生产社会中。因此，对过去人类对小海洋岛屿殖民的研究为经济可塑性、生态影响和早期粮食生产群体的适应提供了见解。在智利南部海岸，早期证据可以追溯到距今 950 年，沿海人口在岛屿上殖民，他们的大陆生计系统基于开发海洋资源，以及采集、管理和种植植物以及狩猎陆生动物。引人注目的是，这些混合经济体对岛屿殖民努力的贡献程度在很大程度上尚不清楚。在这里，我们利用陶瓷制品的有机残留物分析来揭示智利南部摩卡岛上居民的生存状况。我们从 51 个陶器碎片中提取并分析了脂质，这些陶片与距今 950 至 400 年之间在智利南部繁荣的 El Vergel 文化综合体有关。对提取物进行化学和稳定同位素分析，确定了一系列食品，包括 C3和C4植物和海洋生物。结果揭示了混合生存系统在推动摩卡岛殖民化方面的核心作用。