Fish and Plants: Cerritos' Ancient Feasts

Deep in southern Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, near the coast, lies a treasure trove of ancient history. These lands hold some of the oldest coastal pottery in South America. The people who lived here, thousands of years ago, left behind earthen mounds called Cerritos. The Cerritos were built around 4700 BP. The Cerritos are a mystery. Their importance to the people who built them is still a puzzle. What did they do with those mounds? The Cerritos were used for many things. People used pottery a lot. But how, exactly, did they use it? No one knows for sure. Pottery was found to be used for cooking fish and plants. The vessels held microbial-derived lipids, which means plants were possibly fermented. That's right. These ancient folks might have enjoyed alcoholic drinks! But what was the deal with these mounds? They were important. That much is clear. Communities came together seasonally to celebrate the return of fish. The diversity of stable isotope values in human remains supports this idea. These pre-colonial groups had a way of living that revolved around these mounds and the return of fish. That's what the experts think. This isn't just a story about fish and plants. It's about people coming together to celebrate. It's about how people used to live all those years ago, and what they did with nature's gifts. These discoveries provide a glimpse into the lives of our ancestors. It shows us how they interacted with their environment and how important these mounds were to their way of life. It's fascinating to think about how they used the plants and fish to create not only food but also social events. This is a story of community and celebration. It's a story that's been waiting to be told for thousands of years. The Cerritos of southern Brazil are a treasure trove of ancient history. The use of pottery for cooking and fermenting plants is a unique find. The Cerritos were not just mounds of earth. They were places where communities gathered and feasted. It's a story of ancient people coming together to celebrate and enjoy the bounty of nature. The story of the Cerritos is a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of our ancestors. These are not just mounds. They are stories waiting to be told, stories that reveal the lives of people who lived thousands of years ago. It brings to the picture, human migration, their preferences and the way they lived their life.