Early human settlement in the inter-Andean Magdalena valley, Colombia: New technological and chronological insights from the Nare site

The Magdalena valley, Colombia's principal fluvial corridor, has long been recognized as a key route for early human dispersal in northern South America. This inter-Andean region served as a strategic passage between the Andean highlands and the tropical lowlands, offering a resource-rich environment that supported human mobility and settlement since the Pleistocene-Holocene transition. In the Middle Magdalena valley, some of Colombia's oldest preceramic open-air sites have been identified. However, despite their importance, the technological characteristics of their lithic assemblages—the only direct evidence of early human activity—remain poorly understood. This study presents the first systematic techno-economic analysis of the preceramic stratigraphic unit at the Nare site, integrating use-wear and residue analyses. Moreover, new radiocarbon dates refine the site's chronological framework, placing its main occupation in the Early Holocene. The lithic assemblage shows a strong reliance on local raw materials (primarily quartz and chert), a predominance of unretouched flakes, some retouch flakes, and a single unifacial tool. A bladelet core suggests an interest in producing elongated, relatively standardized flakes, though the absence of bladelets raises questions about off-site transport or differential site use. These results refine our understanding of lithic technology in the region and offer a new perspective on the Middle Magdalena's early industries, highlighting a more diverse and flexible technological repertoire. The Nare assemblage demonstrates a wide range of knapping methods, percussion techniques, and raw material management strategies. This study enhances our understanding of early human adaptation in the region and contributes to broader discussions on lithic technologies and settlement dynamics in northern South America.