In pursuit of the fire. Contributions of microcharcoal analysis to the archaeology of the Ambato Valley (Catamarca)

HENRIK B. LINDSKOUG

PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL MARKERS IN ARGENTINE ARCHAEOLOGY: THEORY, METHODS AND APPLICATIONS

BAR S 2678, Archaeopress

Lugar: Oxford; Año: 2014; p. 117 - 130

In this study microcharcoal is used as an indicator of the presence of fires in the past in order to evaluate the last phase of the Aguada occupation of the Ambato Valley, Catamarca Province. Microcharcoal is used as a paleoenvironmental indicator, and tools and methods are applied that were developed in pedoanthracology to analyze sediment samples obtained from the Ambato Valley. The preliminary studies carried out are presented in order to generate information about past wildfires and construct paleoenvironmental data for the area. Seventeen sites throughout the Ambato Valley were sampled in order to obtain paleoenvironmental information about past wildfire regimes.