Certain loci within the Lake Titicaca Basin are thought to be significant to plant and animal domestication in the Andes; archaeological work has been conducted at key sites such as Chiripa, Lukurmata, and Wankarani in pursuit of knowledge surrounding the domestication transition by archaeologists of many subdisciplines. A base of knowledge regarding certain aspects of this transition has been established over the decades, particularly through the work of the Taraco Archaeological Project (TAP), yet many questions remain about its timing and context.
In May and June of 2024, I worked with TAP in Chiripa, Bolivia to process archaeobotanical samples that had been collected during two previous field seasons in 2022 and 2023. A total of 119 samples were processed using two methodologies: flotation and dry screening. In addition to sample processing, work was done to curate archaeobotanical samples and other artifacts recovered from flotation and dry-screening for long-term storage in the community of Chiripa.