Taphonomic analysis of micro and mesomammals from Tres Reyes 1 archaeological site (A. Gonzáles Chaves district, Buenos Aires province)

GUTIERREZ M. A. Y G. N. GÓMEZ

Taphonomy and Zooarchaeology in Argentina

Archaeopress

Lugar: Oxford; Año: 2007; p. 105 - 119

The aim of this paper is to analyse the micro and mesomammal bones recovered from Tres Reyes 1 (District of A. González Cháves, Buenos Aires province) from a taphonomic perspective in order to learn about the role that these species had in the history of the site formation. In this sense, the objective of this paper is to study the problems linked to the association of these species to the rest of the archaeological materials. Two taphonomic approaches were applied to the faunal remains from the site. The first one implied analysing the bones identified as micro and mesomammals by means of: a) quantifying the anatomical representatation and the relative abundance of squeletal parts b) comparing the results obtained from the previously mentioned instance with the present modificaton patterns produced by natural potential predators and c) analysing taphonomic variables. The second one implied studying a sample of archaeofaunistic remains that were recovered with the aim of identifying and quantifying rodent marks frequency and distribution. The results on the proportion of complete micromammal bone elements suggest that natural predators may not have been the ones responsible for the incorporation of the small rodents to the archaeological record. However, modifications on some mesomammal species bone elements indicate that predation or scavenging may have affected them. As regards the role of micro and mesomammals (i.e., rodents and armadillos), both vertical and horizontal migration of the bone remains through the different archaeological components are important. As a result of this, the materials that correspond to different human occupation periods have mixed. These animals have also contributed to bone modification through gnawing. Finally, at TR1 carnivores play a major role on the site formation and on the integrity of the archaeological record. They were responsible for the deposition of some mesomammal species in the upper stratigraphic units and for the guanaco (Lama guanicoe) anatomical profiles by means of the selective transportation of skeletal parts.