Zooarchaeology in Central-Western Argentina: Human Decisions or Landscape Variability?

CLARA OTAOLA; MIGUEL A. GIARDINA; MERCEDES CORBAT; FERNANDO J. FERNÁNDEZ

Nevada

Congreso; 33rd.Great Basin Archaeological Conference; 2012

University of California, Davis

We present the results of zooarchaelogical research focused on variation in Holocene faunalconsumption in Central Western Argentina, The most common prey consumed across the Hoiocene was guanaco [Lama guanicoe), a large, widespread artiodactyl common to zooarchaeological assembiages throughout western Argentina. Smaller prey such as armadillos, fish, and birds, in contras! played a significant role in human diet mostly during the last 2000 years BP. Previous research has suggested that the inclusion of small preys was due to a regional intensification process. However, recent analyses show that the expectations of the intensification model only hold in some areas and that taphonomic processes, not dietary choices, have produced the assemblage composition seen in others.