A contribution to the study of diet of Formative societies in North-western Argentina: isotopic and archaeological evidences. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology

CALO, CRISTINA MARILIN; CORTÉS, LETICIA

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY

John Wiley & Sons

Año: 2009 p. 192 - 203

1099-1212

The present paper is aimed at presenting and discussing currently available isotopic values (δ13C) of human samples dated to the Formative period in the Santa María Valley, adjacent Yungas and Puna regions of North-western Argentina. Results show that the expected tendency of increasing positive C4 isotopic values consistent with the hypothesis of maize agriculture consolidation during Formative times was only partially corroborated. A fuller understanding of this trend is limited by the scant number of samples as well as by the lack of local reference values. Notwithstanding, the revision of these evidences in light of relevant archaeobotanic data allows start building a more accurate reconstruction of the life styles of early agricultural societies settled in North-western Argentina.