Sclerochronology is defined as the study of time series data derived from shells and skeletons, such as growth increment patterns and sequential biogeochemical profiles. Archaeologists have utilized this approach for over 50 years, but it is applied more often in North America and Europe than Latin America. The most common goals in archaeo-sclerochronology focus on estimating season of capture of marine resources, and by extension, permitting inferences regarding season of occupation and reconstruction of subsistence strategies. More recently, archaeologists have applied sclerochronology to reconstruct local climate and environmental conditions relevant to ancient people, measure resource provenance, and assess seasonal activities beyond subsistence. Sclerochronology in Latin American archaeology is encumbered by locally complex seasonality, limited validation studies on modern taxa, and in some locales, a dearth of useful zooarchaeological remains. However, this method has been successfully applied in coastal Peru and to a lesser extent in areas of Central America and the Atlantic coast of South America. This talk will include a general overview of the technique and offer examples of how it provides insight into ancient Peruvian El Niño impacts and Maya ritual practice.
