Sustainability and management of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) hunting by Paleoindian hunter-gatherers at Sabana de Bogota in Aguazuque Archaeological Site (Colombia)

Based on the Aguazuque's (2725+/-35 A.P.-5025+/-40 A.P.) archaeofaunal sample, we document the hunting sustainability and management of the white tailed-deer (Odocoileus virginianus) by Paleoindian hunter-gatherers. We analyzed differences among age classes, sex ratio and size of animals through time. Both young and old adult deer were hunted more often than individuals from other age classes, and both sexes were hunted equally. We did not found evidence of a reduction of body size across time. These results suggest that people managed white tailed-deer hunting by targeting adult animals of both sexes.