CoChat
Sign Up
Cited by 1Maritime and Coastal ArchaeologyHistorical Studies in Central AmericaSoil and Environmental Studies

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 26 of the 26 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 39 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Geodinámica y ocupación humana del litoral pacífico en el sur de Colombia y en el Ecuador desde el Holoceno (últimos 10 000 años)

Open access
Usselmann, Pierre·2010·Bulletin de l’Institut français d’études andines
DOI 10.4000/bifea.1798
Open this paper in CoChat — free accountOpen PDF

Abstract

Las costas pacíficas del sur de Colombia y del Ecuador son ricas en restos de ocupación humana a veces todavía mal conocidos. Se trata a menudo de litorales bastante inhóspitos (caso de Colombia) y siempre de regiones, que han presentado, hoy como ayer, las huellas de importantes catástrofes naturales. Se puede enumerar rápidamente la presencia de capas de cenizas (riesgo volcánico), las consecuencias de movimientos sísmicos y, ligados, de tsunamis, los movimientos en masa en las laderas y las consecuencias del ahora bastante bien conocido fenómeno del Niño (inundaciones), y del elemento contrario, la Niña (gran sequía). Se puede pensar que las poblaciones costeras han tenido que adaptarse a tales amenazas, pero aquellas han podido llegar a veces a un punto en el que los establecimientos y los cultivos han sido totalmente destruidos, llegando al colapso de la presencia humana. Se propone ilustrar esto, desde un punto de vista geomorfológico, a partir de unos ejemplos que brinda la arqueología.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

A geomorphological synthesis of natural hazards — tectonics, volcanism, climate/ENSO, and sea-level change — shaping the Pacific coast of southern Colombia and Ecuador over the last 10,000 years, illustrated with archaeological examples. It argues these processes could destroy settlements and crops entirely, sometimes collapsing human occupation, and that only interdisciplinary work with absolute dating can reconstruct coastal occupation.

Key findings

  • A tectonic event dated to 3200–2800 BP (1200–800 AD) drastically diverted the Santiago–Cayapas drainage system in northern Ecuador while people inhabited the coastal plain; the 1979 Tumaco earthquake was followed by a tsunami with water rise of several meters and ~1.50 m of subsidence in the Mira delta.
  • Explosive volcanism produced thick ash layers along the whole coast from Tumaco southward; in Ecuador the largest explosive crises fall in 4050–2900, 2400, and 980–810 BP, with eruptions documented for Soche (~8600 BP), Pululahua (6750, 2400 BP), Pichincha (8150, 1400, 980 BP), Atacazo-Ninahuilca (5540, 4440, 2350–2269 BP), Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Cuicocha (3100, 2900 BP), and Cayambé; in Colombia, six Galeras eruptions between 4500 BP and the historical period plus Doña Juana (2550 BC) and Azufral (2000, 1500, 930 BC).
  • El Niño raises coastal precipitation by often more than 70% with flooding and a mean sea-level rise of ~50 cm; ENSO is documented from 7600 BP at ~10 events per century versus up to 30–40 per century today, with cold/dry episodes at 9000–8000, 6000–5000, 4200–3800, 3500–2500, 1200–1000, and 600–150 BP.
  • Coastal evolution is reconstructable where sedimentation occurs: at La Tolita, coastal progradation is traced between ~6000 and 500 BP; mangrove establishment on the northern Colombian coast may be as recent as 2600 BP (650 AD), though mangroves appear present for at least 4500 years; present sea level is placed at ~6000 BP by most authors or ~4000 BP by Rees et al. (2006).

Methods

  • A qualitative geomorphological review organized around three hazard classes (tectonics, volcanism, climate/sea level/ENSO), drawing on published literature and the author's own field observations.
  • Case studies from archaeological contexts: Japoto/San Jacinto, Chirije (Manabí), La Tolita, Tumaco, Esmeraldas, and Bahía de Caráquez, using natural exposures, excavation sections, and absolute dates on archaeological or natural organic material.
  • Reconstruction of past shorelines from dated sedimentary records (sand ridges, barrier islands, tidal channels) and comparison with modern coastal dynamics.

Limitations

  • Stated by the author: knowledge of Holocene climate change and sea-level variation on this coast is "puntual, poco numerosa, bastante insegura y muy discutida"; the precise origin and age of most ash layers in Ecuador and Colombia remain unknown; at Japoto there are not enough dates to confirm the proposed occupation scheme; the presence of El Niño throughout the Holocene is still questioned.
  • Stated by the author: reconstruction is far easier in accreting settings than on eroding rocky coasts (e.g., Chirije), where shoreline retreat cuts through archaeological terraces.
  • Evident from the text (my assessment): the paper is a synthetic review with illustrative examples rather than a systematic dataset, and it offers no quantified assessment of how often or how severely populations were actually affected — the author notes it is unknown "to what extent and how many times" coastal populations were marked or destroyed.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.4000/bifea.1798

Cites

26 of 26 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

0 of 39 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingcitation
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    In Japoto, there are not enough datings to assure the proposed scheme of occupation of an aquatic space gradually filling with sediments to become separated from the ocean.

    “En Japoto (fig.5) no tenemos suficientes dataciones para asegurar el esquema propuesto de ocupación de un espacio acuático que, poco a poco, se llena de sedimentos para encontrarse separado del océano (Usselmann, 2006).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Usselmann, 2006 source

      Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  • Interpretationreasoning
    § 2. El volCAniSMo

    The predominance of west-directed winds allows accumulation of important ash layers that could destroy crops and dwellings of human groups established on the coast, especially in the case of rhyolitic and dacitic ashes.

    “Bien conocido, el predominio de vientos orientados hacia el oeste permite entender la acumulación de importantes capas de cenizas que han podido llegar hasta destruir los cultivos y las habitaciones de los grupos humanos establecidos entonces en el litoral, sobre todo cuando se trata de cenizas riolíticas y dacíticas”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Premisecitation
    § 2. El volCAniSMo

    In Ecuador, many more eruptions are known during the Late Holocene.

    “En el Ecuador (Mothes, 1998), más documentado, se conocen muchas más erupciones durante el Holoceno Reciente.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Mothes, 1998

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Premisecitation
    § 1. UnA tECtóniCA MUy ACtivA

    Measurements of some current fault movements show displacements of a few centimeters per year.

    “Las medidas de algunos movimientos de fallas actuales (White et al., 2003;Lavenu, 2006) muestran desplazamientos de algunos centímetros al año.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites White et al., 2003 source
    • cites Lavenu, 2006

      Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  • Premisereasoning
    § 2. El volCAniSMo

    Explosive volcanism emits intense ash falls as far as the Pacific coast, capable of completely destroying crops and human settlements.

    “Como en el Ecuador, se trata de un volcanismo explosivo emitiendo intensas lluvias de cenizas hasta el litoral pacífico, capaces de hacer desaparecer totalmente cultivos y establecimientos humanos.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 24
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 34

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Findingnone given
    § 2. El volCAniSMo

    At the Japoto/San Jacinto archaeological site, the ashes appear to be clearly earlier than the construction of the observed tolas.

    “Hasta la fecha, y con respecto al sitio arqueológico de Japoto/San Jacinto, las cenizas parecen ser nítidamente anteriores a la construcción de las tolas observadas.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingcitation
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    In the coastal portion between Tumaco and the Porto Viejo river mouth near Esmeraldas, no such marine terrace levels are observed, unlike immediately to the south (Manta peninsula).

    “en la porción de litoral entre Tumaco al norte y la desembocadura del río Porto Viejo, en los alrededores de Esmeraldas (Punto Galeras), no se observan tales niveles, al contrario bien visibles inmediatamente al sur (península de Manta)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § 2. El volCAniSMo

    The major explosive crises in Ecuador correspond to the periods 4050-2900, 2400, and 980-810 BP, with deposits of thick ash layers sufficient to destroy all life; the main ash sources in this period were, from north to south, Soche, Pululahua, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Ninahuilca-Atacazo, Quilotoa, and Tungurahua.

    “Según Hall & Mothes (2008), las mayores crisis explosivas en el Ecuador corresponden a los periodos 4050-2900, 2400 y 980-810 BP, con depósitos de gruesas capas de cenizas suficientes para destruir toda vida; los principales focos suministradores de cenizas en esta época serían, de norte a sur: el Soche, el Pululahua, el Pichincha, el Cotopaxi, el Ninahuilca-Atacazo, el Quilotoa y el Tungurahua.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Hall & Mothes (2008) source

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisereasoning
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    El Niño's consequences directly affect the continent, particularly the coast.

    “Sus consecuencias afectan directamente el continente, particularmente el litoral.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § 1. UnA tECtóniCA MUy ACtivA

    Earthquakes have always occurred and have affected this coast well before the Holocene.

    “Si se desconocen evidentemente las fechas de los Figura 1 -Esquema tectónico y de localización 592 593 sismos anteriores, es evidente que siempre se han producido y han afectado este litoral bien antes del Holoceno.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § 1. UnA tECtóniCA MUy ACtivA

    A tectonic movement dated to about 3200-2800 BP caused a drastic modification of the course of the Santiago-Cayapas hydrological system in northern Ecuador, at a time when settlers lived on this coastal plain.

    “Recientemente, Dumont et al. (2006) y Santana et al. (2005-2006) han puesto en evidencia un movimiento tectónico fechado hacia 3200-2800 BP (1200-800 AD)foot_1 , cuya consecuencia ha sido una modificación drástica del curso del sistema hidrológico Santiago-Cayapas en el norte ecuatoriano (fig.2), en un momento en el cual pobladores vivían en esta llanura litoral.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Dumont et al. (2006)

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Santana et al. (2005-2006)

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisenone given
    § 1. UnA tECtóniCA MUy ACtivA

    The contact between the Nazca oceanic plate to the west and the American plate to the east causes numerous earthquakes, whose written records exist only since the arrival of the Spanish.

    “El contacto entre la placa oceánica Nazca al oeste, y la placa americana al este, origina numerosos sismos cuyos registros escritos existen solamente desde la llegada de los españoles.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § 1. UnA tECtóniCA MUy ACtivA

    The 1979 Tumaco earthquake was immediately followed by a tsunami with a water rise of a few meters, whose destructive action caused many victims and destroyed towns established directly on the coastline.

    “En Colombia (Martinez, 1992), el sismo de Tumaco en 1979 (fig. 1) ha sido inmediatamente seguido por un tsunami caracterizado por una subida de las aguas de algunos metros, cuya acción destructora hizo muchas víctimas y arrasó con unos pueblos establecidos directamente en la línea de costa.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Martinez, 1992

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    El Niño is characterized by a rise in temperature along practically the entire coast (less significantly in Tumaco and the extreme north of the Ecuadorian coast) and by a considerable increase-often more than 70%-in precipitation with floods.

    “Con un alza de la temperatura, su principal característica, a lo largo prácticamente de todo el litoral -menos significativamente en Tumaco y en el extremo norte del litoral ecuatoriano (Rossel, 1997)-es un aumento considerable -a menudo más de 70 %-de las precipitaciones con inundaciones.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Rossel, 1997

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § 1. UnA tECtóniCA MUy ACtivA

    In fine sandy sedimentary environments, earthquakes also produce coseismic movements and soil liquefaction, resulting in local subsidence or larger subsidence.

    “sedimentarios finos y arenosos, los sismos producen también movimientos cosísmicos y licuefacción de suelos traduciéndose en hundimientos locales o subsidencias de tamaños más grandes (Martínez, 1992).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Martínez, 1992

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisereasoning
    § 2. El volCAniSMo

    The Andes of southern Colombia and the Ecuadorian Andes have numerous volcanoes, most currently active, and others that have been active during the Holocene and before.

    “Los Andes del sur colombiano, como los Andes ecuatorianos cuentan con numerosos volcanes, la mayor parte activos actualmente, y otros que lo han sido durante el Holoceno y antes.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisenone given
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    El Niño involves a sea-level rise of several tens of centimeters (average 50 cm) and the appearance of abnormally warm waters.

    “Con la subida del nivel marino de varias decenas de centímetros (50 centímetros de promedio), el fenómeno se traduce por la aparición de aguas anormalmente cálidas, lo que corresponde al episodio cálido de la Oscilación Sur El Niño, más conocida por su traducción inglesa, El Niño Southern Oscillation o ENSO.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § 2. El volCAniSMo

    From Tumaco in Colombia, the entire coast has been affected, though it is not yet known to what extent and how many times populations have been marked or destroyed.

    “Desde Tumaco en Colombia, todo el litoral ha sido afectado, sin saber todavía hasta qué punto y cuántas veces han sido marcadas o destruidas las poblaciones.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisecitation
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    El Niño results from atmosphere-ocean interaction.

    “El fenómeno del Niño resulta de la interacción atmósfera/océano (Merle & Hisard, 1990).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Merle & Hisard, 1990 source

      Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Premisenone given
    § 2. El volCAniSMo

    Volcanism's omnipresence is directly linked to the subduction of the Pacific plate beneath the American plate.

    “Su omnipresencia está directamente ligada a la subducción de la placa pacífica debajo de la placa americana.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisereasoning
    § 2. El volCAniSMo

    Numerous datings have been made on expelled ashes or organic remains contemporary with eruptions, covering a good part of the Holocene.

    “Pero, al contrario de las manifestaciones sísmicas, numerosas dataciones han podido ser realizadas sobre las cenizas expulsadas, muy abundantes en el caso dominante de volcanes explosivos, o restos orgánicos contemporáneos de las erupciones.Estas dataciones cubren buena parte del Holoceno”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § Resumen

    Coastal populations have had to adapt to such threats, but they could sometimes reach a point where settlements and crops were totally destroyed, leading to the collapse of human presence.

    “Se puede pensar que las poblaciones costeras han tenido que adaptarse a tales amenazas, pero aquellas han podido llegar a veces a un punto en el que los establecimientos y los cultivos han sido totalmente destruidos, llegando al colapso de la presencia humana.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisenone given
    § Resumen

    The Pacific coasts of southern Colombia and Ecuador are often inhospitable littorals (as in Colombia) and are always regions that have shown, today as in the past, traces of major natural catastrophes.

    “Se trata a menudo de litorales bastante inhóspitos (caso de Colombia) y siempre de regiones, que han presentado, hoy como ayer, las huellas de importantes catástrofes naturales.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    For the northern Colombian Pacific coast, mangrove establishment can be recent (2600 BP, 650 AD), possibly linked to tectonic movements.

    “Jaramillo & Bayona (2000) han demostrado para la costa pacífica norte colombiana cómo el establecimiento de manglares puede ser reciente (2600 BP, 650 AD), tal vez ligado a movimientos tectónicos”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Jaramillo & Bayona (2000) source

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    The natural environment was never static but always very dynamic throughout the Holocene, characterized by a significant rise in ocean level following the last Pleistocene glaciation.

    “el entorno natural nunca fue estático sino, al contrario, siempre muy dinámico (Van der Hammen et al., 1996)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Van der Hammen et al., 1996

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationnone given
    § ConClUSión

    These large threats induce second-order risks such as landslides and sedimentation, floods or droughts, development or disappearance of lagoons and sand ridges, and modification of river beds.

    “En definitiva, estas grandes amenazas inducen riesgos de segundo orden, tal como deslizamientos y sedimentaciones, inundaciones o sequías, desarrollo de lagunas y de cordones arenosos o su desaparición, modificación de los lechos fluviales”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Tectonic movements characterize the region as affected in its totality by large fractures, producing earthquakes and their consequences.
    • Rests on an assumption: Volcanism, linked to tectonics, affects the entire region and, on the coast, particularly produces ash rains.
    • Rests on an assumption: This coast has also been affected by planetary climate changes, which caused ocean-level variations.
    • Rests on an assumption: El Niño phenomenon consequences have been and still are very important for coastal populations.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisenone given
    § 2. El volCAniSMo

    The Cotopaxi has known a large number of eruptions, particularly those of 3880, 3280, 2640, 400, 230 BC, then 70, 150, 180, 740, 770, 1130, and 1350 AD.

    “El Cotopaxi conoce un gran número de erupciones, particularmente las de 3880, 3280, 2640, 400, 230 BC, luego 70, 150, 180, 740, 770, 1130 y 1350 AD.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisenone given
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    A climatic warming trend occurred between 14000 and 6000 BP, with somewhat short cooling phases between 9000 and 8000 BP and before 6000 BP.

    “se observaría una tendencia al calentamiento climático entre 14000 y 6000 BP, pero con fases de enfriamiento más o menos cortas entre 9000 y 8000 BP y antes de 6000 BP.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisenone given
    § 2. El volCAniSMo

    The Cayambé is known to have erupted in 2000 BC, then in 1040 and 1290 AD.

    “Del Cayambé se conocen las erupciones de 2000 BC, luego de 1040 y 1290 AD.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    ENSO is well attested from 7600 BP with a periodicity of about 10 per century, while current frequency is much higher (up to 30-40 per century).

    “El fenómeno ENSO estaría bien comprobado a partir de 7600 BP, con una periodicidad del orden de 10 por siglo, mientras que la frecuencia actual es mucho mayor (hasta 30 ó 40 por siglo, Schulmeister et al., 2006).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Schulmeister et al., 2006

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisecitation
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    Some authors distinguish a Holocene with long-term climatic changes from short-duration El Niño climatic manifestations.

    “otros autores distinguen un Holoceno, con cambios climáticos de términos temporales largos, de las manifestaciones climáticas del Niño de corta duración (Stahl, 1991)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Stahl, 1991 source

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    The current ocean level is generally considered to be reached around 6000 BP; Rees et al. estimate it was established around 4000 BP.

    “Si se considera generalmente que el nivel actual de los océanos se alcanza alrededor de 6000 BP (4000 a. C), Rees et al. (2006) estiman que el nivel actual se establece hacia 4000 BP (2050 a. C).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Rees et al. (2006) source

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisecitation
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    This last hypothesis is now being quite criticized.

    “esta última hipótesis está siendo ahora bastante criticada (Rosas Dintel, 2007)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Rosas Dintel, 2007

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisenone given
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    Cold episodes are also characterized by droughts, linked to variable solar activity and a southward migration of the ITCZ, at various dates between 9000-8000, 6000-5000, 4200-3800, 3500-2500, 1200-1000, and 600-150 BP.

    “Los episodios fríos se caracterizan también por sequías, ligados con una actividad solar variable y una migración hacia el sur de la Convergencia intertropical, entre 9000-8000, 6000-5000, 4200-3800, 3500-2500, 1200-1000 y 600-150 BP”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Premisenone given
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    Rocky coasts with subvertical slopes never register important consequences of ocean-level variations.

    “las costas rocosas, con pendientes subverticales, nunca registran consecuencias importantes de las variaciones del nivel del océano”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationnone given
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    Observations of eventual long-term climatic changes are currently very punctual, few, quite uncertain, and thus much discussed.

    “las observaciones son actualmente muy puntuales, poco numerosas, bastante inseguras y entonces muy discutidas”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    It would be an error to think there was only erosion or sedimentation in any given part of the coast; the processes are more complex, surely characterized by the alternation of erosion and sedimentation periods.

    “sería un error pensar que han habido solamente erosión o sedimentación en tal o cual parte de la costa: los procesos son más complejos, caracterizados seguramente por la alternancia de periodos de erosión o de sedimentación”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Interpretationnone given
    § ConClUSión

    These threats were surely feared by the populations.

    “todas amenazas seguramente muy temidas por las poblaciones”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Tectonic movements characterize the region as affected in its totality by large fractures, producing earthquakes and their consequences.
    • Rests on an assumption: Volcanism, linked to tectonics, affects the entire region and, on the coast, particularly produces ash rains.
    • Rests on an assumption: This coast has also been affected by planetary climate changes, which caused ocean-level variations.
    • Rests on an assumption: El Niño phenomenon consequences have been and still are very important for coastal populations.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisenone given
    § 2. El volCAniSMo

    The Tungurahua erupted in 7750, 1010, 270 BC, then in 200 and 730 AD.

    “Y, por terminar, el Tungurahua se manifiesta en 7750, 1010, 270 BC, luego en 200 y 730 AD.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    ENSO is a cyclic phenomenon with irregular return periods that has surely affected the coast during all or much of the Holocene and remains very active at present.

    “ha afectado seguramente al litoral durante todo o buena parte del Holoceno, y permanece muy activo actualmente.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Arteaga et al., 2006 source

      Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § ConClUSión

    Contact with an ocean rich in halieutic production motivated the early installation, and largely continuous over time, of various populations whose remains are now the object of archaeological research.

    “En contraste, se contempla el contacto con un océano rico de producción halieutica, lo que ha motivado la pronta instalación, y en gran parte bastante continua en el tiempo, de varias poblaciones cuyos restos constituyen ahora el objeto de investigaciones arqueológicas(Bouchard, 2008).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Bouchard, 2008

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    These periods correspond to moments of rupture for cultures and sometimes their demise.

    “Globalmente, estos autores consideran que estos periodos corresponden con momentos de ruptura para las culturas y, a veces, con su fenecimiento.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § 2. El volCAniSMo

    The Atacazo-Ninahuilca is known for its explosions of 5540, 4440, and 2350-2269 BP, with proven ash deposits throughout the coastal plain at the level of Bahía de Caráquez.

    “El Atacazo-Ninahuilca (Hidalgo et al., 2008;Hall & Mothes, 2008;Zeidler & Isaacson, 1994) es conocido por sus explosiones de 5540, 4440 y 2350-2269 BP, con depósitos comprobados de cenizas en toda la llanura litoral a la altura de Bahía de Caráquez.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Hidalgo et al., 2008 source

      Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

    • cites Hall & Mothes, 2008 source
    • cites Zeidler & Isaacson, 1994

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    These movements are produced both by marine erosion and by heavy rainfall during El Niños in formations rich in expansive clays.

    “estos movimientos se producen tanto por la erosión marina (Usselmann, 2006; Santana et al., 2001; Iriundo, 1992; Plaza et al., 2000) como por las grandes precipitaciones traídas durante los Niños en formaciones ricas en arcillas de gran poder expansivo”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Usselmann, 2006 source

      Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

    • cites Santana et al., 2001

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites Iriundo, 1992

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisenone given
    § 2. El volCAniSMo

    The Soche erupted around 8600 BP.

    “la explosión del Soche alrededor de 8600 BP”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisecitation
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    Changing conditions during the Holocene, essentially wetter or drier climatic alternations, have been known for several decades.

    “Desde hace varios decenios de años (Sarma, 1974) se conocen condiciones cambiantes durante el Holoceno, esencialmente alternancias climáticas más húmedas o más secas.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Sarma, 1974

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    Sediments carried by water courses represent an enormous load that, reworked by the littoral current, can build littoral ridges and close estuaries.

    “Estos sedimentos llevados por los cursos de agua, o que llegan directamente al océano, representan una enorme carga, la cual, retomada por la corriente litoral, tiene la capacidad no solamente de construir cordones litorales, sino también de cerrar los estuarios”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Tutiven, 1998

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisenone given
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    When coastal uplift exists, ocean/tectonic relations are reflected in the coast by the presence of ancient stepped beach levels (marine terraces).

    “cuando existe un levantamiento de la costa, las relaciones océano/tectónica se traducen en el litoral con la presencia de antiguos niveles de playa escalonados (terrazas marinas)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisenone given
    § 2. El volCAniSMo

    The Pichincha, always very active, has had strong eruptions in 8150, 1400, and 980 BP.

    “El Pichincha, siempre muy activo, ha conocido fuertes erupciones en 8150, 1400 y 980 BP.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Interpretationcitation
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    Erosion also characterizes some low-coast sites, currently Tumaco, and probably the process has existed throughout the Holocene.

    “La erosión caracteriza también algunos sitios de costas bajas: es el caso actualmente de Tumaco (Montagut Cifuentes, 1998), y probablemente el proceso ha existido a lo largo del Holoceno”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Montagut Cifuentes, 1998 source

      Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Premisecitation
    § 3. loS CAMBioS CliMátiCoS, lAS vARiACionES dEl nivEl dEl MAR y El FEnóMEno dEl niño

    The presence of El Niño throughout the entire Holocene remains questioned.

    “La presencia del Niño a lo largo de todo el Holoceno sigue siendo cuestionada (Clement et al., 2000)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Clement et al., 2000 source

      Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

46 of 46

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The Holocene climatic changes had potentially important consequences for the human populations of the Colombian-Ecuadorian Pacific coast.

    “sus consecuencias han sido tal vez muy importantes para las poblaciones”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The equatorial Pacific coast is often characterized by apparent inhospitality.

    “Esta porción del litoral pacífico ecuatorial (fig.1)se caracteriza a menudo por una inhospitalidad aparente.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The apparent inhospitality of the equatorial Pacific coast translates into dense closed mangrove vegetation in the north and aridity of the coast toward the south.

    “Esta se traduce por la presencia de una tupida y cerrada vegetación de manglares en el norte, y por la aridez de la costa hacia el sur.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Tectonic movements characterize the region as affected in its totality by large fractures, producing earthquakes and their consequences.

    “los movimientos tectónicos caracterizan un conjunto afectado en su totalidad por grandes fracturas, traduciéndose por la existencia de sismos y sus consecuencias”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Volcanism, linked to tectonics, affects the entire region and, on the coast, particularly produces ash rains.

    “ligada a la tectónica, la omnipresencia del volcanismo afecta a toda la región, y, tratándose de la costa, particularmente las lluvias de cenizas”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    This coast has also been affected by planetary climate changes, which caused ocean-level variations.

    “este litoral ha sido también afectado por los cambios climáticos planetarios, lo que provocó, muy en particular, variaciones del nivel del océano.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    El Niño phenomenon consequences have been and still are very important for coastal populations.

    “Se debe adjuntar a esta dinámica el fenómeno del Niño, ahora bastante bien conocido, cuyas consecuencias han sido, y son todavía, muy importantes para las poblaciones del litoral.”
7 of 7

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

  • Mangrove date of 2600 BP is mislabeled as 650 AD

    Minor

    Using the paper's 1950 BP reference, 2600 BP corresponds to approximately 650 BC, not 650 AD.

    Reported 650 · recomputed -650

  • Tectonic event's BP date is assigned to AD instead of BC

    Minor

    The paper defines BP as years before 1950. Thus 3200 BP is approximately 1250 BC, not 1200 AD; the entire stated AD range is on the wrong side of the calendar.

    Reported 1200 · recomputed -1250

2 of 2

Citations

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 8

  1. Iriondo, M., 1992 – Dinámica litoral en la costa ecuatoriana durante el Holoceno superior; Lima, ORSTOM/CONCYTEC. Paleo ENSO Records Internacional Symposium. Ext. Abstracts, 155-158.
  2. Isaacson, J., 1994 – Volcanic sediments in archaeological contexts from western Ecuador. In: Regional Archaeology in Northern Manabí, Ecuador (J. Zeidler & D. Pearsall, eds.): 1, 8, 131-140; Pittsburg: Univ. Pittsburg Memoirs Latin American Archaeology.
  3. Martinez, M. J. O., 1992 – Geomorfología de la costa del Pacífico colombiano y aspectos relativos a su estabilidad; Lima, ORSTOM/CONCYTEC. Paleo ENSO Records International Symposium. Ext. Abstracts, 193-196.
  4. Mothes, P. (ed.), 1998 – Actividad volcánica y pueblos precolombinos en el Ecuador, 205 pp.; Quito: Abya Yala.
  5. Santana, E., Dumont, J.-F. & King, A., 2001 – Los efectos del fenómeno El Niño en la ocurrencia de una alta taza de erosión costera en el sector de Punta , Gorda, Esmeraldas. Acta Oceanografica del Pacífico, 11 (1): 1-8.
  6. Santana, E., Dumont, J.-F., Valdez, F., Pazmiño, N., Tihay, J.-P., Usselmann, P. & Lopez, E., 2005-2006 – Método morfo-estructural para la identificación de paleo eventos tecto-sísmicos: aplicación a la zona costera de San , Lorenzo, Norte de Ecuador. Acta Oceanografica del Pacífico, 13 (1): 227-241.
  7. Sarma, A. V. N., 1974 – Holocene Paleoecology of South Coastal Ecuador. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, 118 (1): 93-134.
  8. Tihay, J.-P. & Usselmann, P., 1995 – Medio ambiente y ocupación humana en el litoral pacífico colombo-ecuatoriano (M. Guinea, J.-F. Bouchard & J. Marcos, eds.): 377-400; Quito: Bibliot. Abya Yala .21.

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Metadata

Authors
Usselmann, P.
Affiliations
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
Corresponding author
Usselmann, Pierre
Venue
Bulletin de l’Institut français d’études andines
Publisher
OpenEdition
Published
2010
Volume
39 (3)
Pages
589-602
ISSN
  • 0303-7495 (ISSN-L)
  • 2076-5827
DOI
10.4000/bifea.1798
OpenAlex
W1830645256
Cited by
1
References
25
Citations by year
2023: 1
FWCI
0.00
Type
journal article
Language
es
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Bulletin de l’Institut français d’études andines (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Redalyc (Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México) (submittedVersion)
  • OpenEdition (OpenEdition) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology (arts and humanities) › Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Historical Studies in Central America
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil and Environmental Studies
Keywords
Holocene, coastal geomorphology, southern Colombia, Ecuadorian Pacific coast, volcanic ash layers, natural hazards, tsunami, earthquakes, mass movements, El Niño, drought

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

A language model drew the claims from the paper on 2026-11-10, under version 3 of the claim definition (model deepseek-v4.1-flash, prompt extract-v3).

A second model labelled each claim on 2026-11-10 (model jev-1.13-20260917, definition revision gold-guideline-v0.2).

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review