Sources of obsidian artefacts, exchange networks and landscape use in Auca Mahuida (Neuquén, northwestern Patagonia)

RINDEL, DIEGO; PEREZ, S. IVAN; BARBERENA, RAMIRO; MACDONALD, BRANDI LEE ; GLASCOCK, MICHAEL D.

ARCHAEOMETRY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2020

0003-813X

We present the results of XRF analysis for 59 obsidiansamples from 11 archaeological sites in Auca Mahuida region, NortheasternNeuquén, Argentina. The results indicate that several obsidian sources wereutilized; however, the intensities of their exploitation were variable. Strongdifferences appear between the Colorado river basin, characterised by a lowvariability of obsidian groups from northern Neuquén, the Auca volcano, with alow variability of obsidian groups but from local sources located north andsouthwards from the study area; and along Bajo del Añelo, which presents a highvariability of obsidian groups from several local and non-local sources. Thepattern recorded fit different mechanisms of access to the sources andconveyance of obsidian across the landscape. Two distinct paths of directaccess are suggested for obsidian available along the Colorado river innorthern Neuquén and for Portada Covunco obsidian in central Neuquén. Additionally,we suggest the presence of obsidian from sources in southern Neuquén Province (CerroLas Planicies-Lago Lolog), located ca. 350 km from the study area. While notconclusive yet, this possibility parsimoniously integrates availablegeochemical and spatial information, allowing us to propose the existence ofeither long-distance transport or indirect access by exchange or similarmechanisms.