Distributional Studies in the Diamante Valley, Mendoza, Argentina: A Methodological Approach.

OTAOLA, CLARA; FERNANDO FRANCHETTI; GIARDINA, MIGUEL

Orlando

Congreso; 81th SAA Annual Meeting.; 2016

Society American Archaeology

Our research objectives are 1) To map out the spatial and temporal variability in the intensity of human use of different environmental settings, namely the highlands, the piedmont and the lowlands of the Diamante Valley, through systematic surface survey 2) To establish the patterns of resource exploitation in each of these settings and to evaluate the reason for similarities and differences. And, 3) To compare these patterns with proxy archives of local and regional environmental change. We suggest that the use of the space changed across the Holocene showing that humans manage a diversity of strategies to adapt to risky environments. In the Late Holocene, when environmental conditions got similar to the current ones, there was an increase of diversity of animals and plants in the diet, trade of more exotic raw materials and goods, use of storage strategies to furnish reoccupied locations, incorporation of ceramics and smaller projectile points. In addition, mobility got more restricted as territoriality increased. However, these changes were not similar in the highlands, the piedmont and the lowlands. The main contribution of this random sampling design is its statistical strength that is supported by the size of the sample. The choice of units of 1 hectare multiplies the sample by ten, that usually uses 1km2. The pilot study show the feasibility of this methodology using a crew of three members and proving and average of 7 seven units per day. In addition, information of isolated findings and sites was recorded in the round trips among units which incorporate another level of information to discuss the hypothesis regarding the use of space. The lack of findings in the lowlands may be due to 4 reasons: site formation, visibility, bad luck or very low human occupation.