A functional approach to the analysis of the teeth of Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (capybara) as tools, a South American example

PARMIGIANI VANESA; ALVAREZ SONCINI MARIA CELINA; MARIA ESTELA MANSUR

Faro

Conferencia; INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON USE-WEAR ANALYSIS; 2012

Universidad do Algave

The teeth of animals recurrently appear in the archaeological sites. In most cases, the teeth pass to swell "consumed animal" lists, since they are an excellent indicator of taxonomic and those that are modified are interpreted as personal ornaments. Generally not is them separated for further study, taking these potential of being used as tools almost without any modification. Through data derived from various ethnographic and archaeological studies, we know that different cultures have selected teeth to be implemented as tools. Why we believe that the analysis of traces of use on dental handpieces is necessary and so must select them from the joint arqeuofaunísticos and consider them as potential tools. Although abundant, the forms implemented to identify their functions are still limited and confined to the typological classification (Yolaine Maigrot 2001).The aim of this paper is to present the results of functional analysis of microscopic basis applied to an experimental collection of teeth from Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris commonly known as the capybara. This animal with the beaver represent the largest rodents of the world, and capybara South American indigenous representative and for which there is a record of use of their incisors from the Gwayakis of the Paraguay (Clastre, 1972).