Cronoestratigrafía del Sitio Rincón del Atuel-1 (San Rafael, Mendoza): Formación del sitio y ocupación humana

DIEGUEZ, S.; GIL, A.F.; NEME, G.A.; ZÁRATE, M.A.; CLAUDIO GERMAN DE FRANCESCO; STRASSER, E.

Intersecciones en Antropología

Facultad de Ciencias Sociales - UNCPBA

Lugar: Olavarrìa; Año: 2004 vol. 5 p. 71 - 80

1666-2105

The aim of this paper is to discuss the archaeological record of alluvial environments in arid-semi arid ecosystems. The Rincon del Atuel-1 site from San Rafael, Mendoza, is presented as a case study. Specifically, the site's stratigraphy and sedimentology are described, together with the chronology obtained through 14C and TL. With this information, the site formation process and the relationship between the archaeological record and the sedimentary matrix is discussed. A series of alluvial processes affected the site during the last 1,500-1,700 years, while it was occupied by human populations. At the same time, an important change in the river level occurred. The chronological and stratigraphic differences observed in the deposit are explained in terms of post-depositional factors that probably affected it. Historically, archaeological work in this region has centered on caves and rockshelters. For this reason, knowledge of the  depositional and post-depositional processes that affected these areas provides new perspectives for designing future work in similar contexts.