Nearshore paleoceanogaphic conditions through the Holocene: Shell carbonate from archaeological sites of the Atacama Desert coast

From the southern coast of Peru to the central-north coast of Chile (18 degrees-31 degrees S) previous evidence suggests that wide variations in sea surface temperature (SST) over the Holocene may be associated with changes in coastal upwelling regimes along the region. Support for spatial contrasts and similarities in oceanographic dynamics comes from earlier work at both extremes of the region. Using a 12 kyr record derived from shell midden archaeological sites around Taltal Chile (25 degrees S), we show that changes in the region are not necessarily consistent with a simple latitudinal gradient. Using delta C-13 and delta O-18 isotopic records from archaeological carbonate shells of the keyhole limpet Fissurella maxima we find that cold SST during the Early Holocene was associated with more negative delta C-13 values in agreement with observations from southern Peru. Warmer waters during the beginning of the Middle Holocene, had positive delta C-13 values, differentiating them from southern Peru and central-north Chile records. The rest of the Middle Holocene showed a decreasing SST accompanied by negative delta C-13 values, and after 4000 cal yr BP, the Late Holocene showed a progressive increase in SST and positive delta C-13 values. Finally, modern carbonate shells of F. maxima indicate a situation not observed throughout the Holocene period: warm SST is associated with negative delta C-13 values, in line with results on modern shells from southern Peru and modern oceanographic patterns that indicate an intensification of coastal upwelling with events of warm water intrusion. Our results show that the southern coast of the Atacama Desert experienced important fluctuations in SST and upwelling conditions during the Holocene, which may have affected the distribution of nearshore fisheries along the Northern Coast of Chile.

Automated summary

From the southern coast of Peru to the central-north coast of Chile, there have been significant fluctuations in sea surface temperature and upwelling conditions during the Holocene. The research shows that the relationship between SST and isotopic values is complex, with different patterns observed at different stages of the Holocene. Additionally, modern oceanographic patterns suggest an intensification of coastal upwelling with warm water intrusion, impacting fisheries along the Northern Coast of Chile.