Horticulturists and oxygen ecozones in the tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast South America

CARBONERA, MIRIAN; LOPONTE, DANIEL M.; ACOSTA, ALEJANDRO; CORRIALE, MARÍA JOSÉ

Environmental Archaeology

Association for Environmental Archaeology

Año: 2016 p. 1 - 21

1461-4103

We analyse the isotopic values (δ13C, δ15N) of the diet of pre-Columbian horticulturalist populations fromtropical and subtropical areas of southeastern South America, belonging to the Guarani and Taquaraarchaeological units. The data indicate different trends in each one (T = 4.21; P = 0.0004), showing amixed diet with maize consumption in the Guarani samples (δ13Cco = −15.5 ± 1.8?; δ13Cap −10.4 ±0.8?) and a depleted one in the Taquara ones (δ13Cco −18.2 ± 1.7?; δ13Cap −11.9 ± 0.9?), with asignificant internal dispersion in both populations. The first population has higher nitrogen values (δ15N11.1 ± 0.6?) compared to the Taquara samples (δ15N 9.3 ± 1?), suggesting a more carnivorous diet.The recognition of these pre-Columbian mixed diets involves the identification of maize cultivation on theAtlantic side of the southernmost area of South America (Parana Delta, 34° SL). Through the analysis ofδ18O we have identified two isotopic ecozones, the first along the Paraná River Valley, with an averagevalue of δ18O −3.7 ± 0.5? (CV = 13.5%; CI = −3.83 / −3.16), and the second one, located in thePlanalto of southern Brazil (Araucaria Forest), with a mean value of δ18O −1.5 ± 0.3? (CV = 16.5%;CI = −1.69 / −1.29). The isotopic data (δ13C, δ15N and δ18O) suggest human movements between thesetwo ecozones.