In June 2025, archaeologists conducted a rescue excavation at the pre-Hispanic site of El Duraznillo in Anfama, Tucumán, Argentina. The work was initiated after members of the indigenous Diaguita community discovered bones, partially exposed on the surface, during road construction. The operation revealed the remains of at least two individuals and valuable artifacts dating back to the 1st millennium AD.
The excavations were organized by the Heritage Department of the Tucumán Cultural Entity in collaboration with the archaeologists of the Southern Calchaquíes Summits group, which has been researching this region for over a decade. The fieldwork was led by Gonzalo Moyano, Francisco Franco, and Stefania Chiavassa Arias, with the support of specialists from the National Scientific and Technical Research Council of Argentina (CONICET) and the University of Cordoba.
Among the findings were ceramic fragments with geometric decorations, a quartz arrowhead, a bone instrument and various animal remains, including llamas, birds and possibly deer. The human remains were found in good condition. Preliminary analysis indicates that one of the buried individuals may have been a young man between 20 and 35 years old.
Researchers note that this is the first documented discovery of human remains in this area. The discovery helps reconstruct the daily life, diet, diseases, and burial practices of ancient communities that lived in the Andes at the turn of the era. The remains were temporarily transferred to a laboratory in Cordoba for scientific analysis and will later be returned to the community.
The discovery highlights the important role of local communities in protecting archaeological heritage. Thanks to the coordinated actions of the inhabitants of Anfama and the researchers, it was possible to prevent the loss of unique material and lay the foundation for further research, planned for August 2025.