New evidence for the survival of Pleistocene fauna and the archaeological silence of the Middle Holocene in the Southeastern Pampean region (Argentina)

GUTIÉRREZ, M. A., G. MARTÍNEZ Y HEIDI LUCHSINGER

St. Louis, Missouri

Congreso; 75th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology; 2010

Society for American Archaeology

Two major issues in Pampean archaeology include the survival ofPleistocene fauna into the Early Holocene and the “archaeologicalsilence” of the Middle Holocene. The Paso Otero 4 site (Río QuequénGrande Valley, Argentina) provides direct evidence pertaining to bothissues. Faunal remains of extinct armadillo (Eutatus seguini) date toca. 7700 BP and the archaeological record of this site has beenradiocarbon dated to ca. 7700-5500 BP. This paper discusses howthe evidence contributes to our understanding of these issues as wellas the context of the regional archaeological record for the Pampasduring the Middle Holocene.