Current and prehistoric human mobility in North Neuquen: an approach using complex networks and stableisotopic mixing models

DABRAMO S; PEREZ S.I.; GONZALEZ, PAULA N.; GOBBO D; MOSCARDI B; BERNAL V

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences

Springer

Año: 2023

1866-9557

The study of the seasonal mobility and use of space by human populations that inhabited the North ofNeuquén (Patagonia, Argentina) over time is a subject of great interest. In this study, we develop a frameof reference for investigating the past seasonal mobility in the region by examining the connectivitybetween areas of summer and winter camps used by contemporary transhumant herders. Our weightedbipartite network analyses show that the seasonal mobility of current herders exhibits a modularorganization with winter and summer camps located at short distances − 7 and 100km–. Then, theapplicability of this framework was assessed by analyzing δ18O values obtained from prehistoric humanremains from the Curi Leuvú basin and current river water from North Neuquén and South Mendoza toconstruct an isoscape and infer the geographic origin of human samples. The isotope results agree withthe expectations derived from the framework developed here, showing a preferential use of the closersummer camps of the Tromen massif and Domuyo volcano by groups settled in the Curi Leuvú basin,although a large proportion of the δ18O values are consistent with the permanence in the winter areathroughout the year. This interpretation is consistent with the expectations derived from the analysis ofthe mobility of current herders and is compatible with foraging movements of individuals or small groupsfrom the winter areas to the nearest summer areas.