free download - University Press of Colorado

Collation, Correlation, and Causation in the Prehistory of Coastal Peru
5.7. Population, risk, and complexity on the Peruvian coast, 6000–3000 BP. See figure
5.5 caption for sources. Figure drafted by Kurt Rademaker.
social disruption, and disease (Cook 1981; cf. Kiracofe and Marr 2009).
This pattern seems counterintuitive at first glance but may hold important
lessons.
Conclusion
As noted earlier, the coarse resolution of archaeological views of the past results
in many issues remaining unclear. The turbulent times of change between recognizable
cultural periods are difficult to interpret. Even if fine-grained resolution
were available, some issues would be elusive. For example, demographic
collapse as a result of diseases that leave no easily recognizable signatures on
human remains (especially in regions where only bones remain) would be hard
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