Recycled Fishtail points in the Argentinian Pampa. Everyday tools on distinctive Paleoamerican objects?

WEITZEL, CELESTE; MAZZIA, NATALIA; SALOMÓN, HOCSMAN; PAZZI, FRANCO; FLEGENHEIMER, NORA

PaleoAmerica

Routledge

Año: 2022

2055-5563

In this paper, we present the case of recycled Fishtail points from a Late Pleistocene site in the Pampean Tandilia ranges, Argentina. Detailed descriptions of the recycled tools are integrated with previous breakage and fatty acids analysis. We assess if the practice of recycling was related to a specific task, a conservative strategy, functional reasons, and if other non-economic reasons may have played a significant role. Results show a marked selection of certain fragments to manufacture burin-like tools and few other tool types. We propose that Fishtail points recycling played a role in making and repairing weapons, and that different factors must be considered to explain the reasons behind this practice.