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Abstract
The Archaic Period in the Andes is characterized as a time of increasing social complexity. Unfortunately, these mobile foraging groups have been understudied in the Eastern Andes, especially in Bolivia. This bioarchaeological analysis uses an embodiment-oriented theoretical perspective to address questions about the mobility and habitual activities of a sample of individuals from the Cordillera de Sama Biological Reserve, located between the Bolivian highlands and Chaco Lowlands. This research uses osteoarthritis (OA), entheseal changes (EC), and cross-sectional strength of long bones to investigate differences between age, sex, and burial groups. These data suggest that 1) females and males habitually participated in different types/levels of physical activities, 2) activity patterns were driven by age, and 3) those interred at PJ-1 were more mobile than those at LGT-1. By evaluating the degrees of OA, EC, and cross-sectional strength, the habitual workload of these individuals is addressed to help scholars understand the life experiences of Andean foragers during the Archaic Period.