Geographic vectors of inter-mountain human circulation: the role of Andean obsidian (Central Argentina and Central Chile).

GIESSO, MARTÍN; DURAN VICTOR; CORTEGOSO, VALERIA; BARBERENA, RAMIRO; GLASCOCK, MICHAEL

Lipari

Conferencia; International Obsidian Conference.; 2016

This research has helped us expand our knowledge about the use of high altitude sites in central Andes of Argentina. The lack of obsidian (and other material elements) from the eastern plains suggest that these summer camps were occupied by groups from the western flanks of the Andes exclusively, during the Late Holocene. It also helped with the identification of 2 subsources in the Laguna del Diamante region: Laguna del Diamante and Paramillos. Using space and time we can speculate that the Paramillos source might be in the western section of the Laguna, and that it was most utilized in the earliest occupation, around 1500-1000 BP. The large presence of Paramillos obsidian (54%) is in favor of a local origin. Only one obsidian from an extralocal source (Laguna del Maule) was found, and one of unknown provenience.