A Human Body, a Necklace, a Pestle, and a Stone Axe: An Osteobiographical Perspective of a 4,000-Year-Old Burial in Calamuchita Valley (Córdoba, Argentina)

GORDILLO, SANDRA; SARIO, GISELA; FABRA MARIANA; COLOMBO, FERNANDO; NORES, RODRIGO

LATIN AMERICAN ANTIQUITY

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS

Año: 2022

1045-6635

We report the results of bioarchaeological, genetic, malacological, and lithic analyses of a burial located in the CalamuchitaValley in the province of Córdoba in central Argentina. We discuss these findings from an osteobiographical perspective thatconsiders the physical body from three spheres of analysis: biological, social, and political. The skeletal remains correspond toan adult male who died 3770 ± 90 14C years BP (4404?3850 cal BP). His mitochondrial lineage A2+16192-16248 could haveoriginated in central Argentina; this lineage subsequently became extinct in modern populations. In association with thehuman bones, there were two lithic tools, ornamental shells, and a stone pendant arranged as a necklace. This type of contextis infrequently found in the region and the period studied. Thus, this burial represents a rare and relevant record for regionaland South American archaeology, providing the oldest direct evidence of a burial with grave goods in hunter-gatherer societiesof the province of Córdoba, central region of Argentina.