Human Predation and Natural History of Huemul (CERVIDAE; Hippocamelus bisulcus Molina) in Patagonia: A Zooarchaeological Analysis

FERNÁNDEZ, PABLO MARCELO; CRUZ, ISABEL; BELARDI, JUAN BAUTISTA; DE NIGRIS, MARIANA; MUÑOZ, ANDRÉS SEBASTIÁN

JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY

SOC ETHNOBIOLOGY

Año: 2015 vol. 35 p. 472 - 498

0278-0771

We use published zooarchaeological evidence to discuss the various hypotheses concerning the pastdistribution of huemuls in Patagonia, southern South America. We then use these data to evaluate theinteractions between this cervid and hunter-gatherers during the Holocene. The zooarchaeological record showsthat huemul mainly inhabited forested and forest?steppe ecotonal environments during the Holocene. Huemulwere hunted in exceptional circumstances during the early occupation of Patagonia. Its presence in thezooarchaeological record of South Patagonia increases after 9500 BP and is more frequent after 2200 BP.However, the taxonomic contribution of the species? bone remains to the archaeological record is always low. Thefew assemblages where there are a high number of huemul bones would have been the result of opportunistichunting episodes. This in turn suggests that hunting of huemul had little or no influence on the animal?sregional distribution over time. However, the progressively greater human presence in some forested areastowards the end of the Holocene could have affected huemul populations at the local scale. The zooarchaeologicalinformation presented in this paper illustrates interspecific and long-term relationships and, hence, could serveas essential information in future management strategies for huemul in Argentina and Chile.