Pots in Northern Patagonia: Design characteristics, functionality and variability.

FERNANDO FRANCHETTI; SUGRAÑES NURIA

Austin

Congreso; 79th SAA Annual Meeting.; 2014

Society American Archaeology

Form and function has been a common topic of study in ceramic analysis, mostly in agricultural studies and used as a heuristic tool to interpret fragmentary remains (Rice 1987). In hunter gatherers, Eerkens (2012) has proposed some expectations for measures and possible uses in trade pots. Beck (2009) has also proposed a relation between mobile and sedentary groups and the exchange of ceramics. Following this background, the aim of this study is to describe and compare the assemblages of pots from museums in North Patagonia. The objectives are: 1) to identify possible uses in which the ceramic technology was involved, 2) to observe similarities or differences that can be found with sherds samples: 3) to describe the relation between forms and trade. 49 pots were measured, weight and photographed from three different museum collections: 6 from General Alvear Natural History museum, 24 from San Rafael Natural History museum and 19 from Malargue Natural History Museum.There is a low relation between the pots samples and sherds assemblages. The similarities are only found with non- local styles from Chile (Aconcagua, Llolleo) and for the highlands style Overo. There have not been found complete forms of Local styles from the lowlands yet. It may be possible that the pots sample represent late occupations. This greater variability, is probably due to the size of the sample or because they are mainly associated with non-local styles and trade. Different authors have argued about strategies used by hunter gatherers in the incorporation of ceramics. These tactics can involve: 1) the reoccupation and catchment of pots (Eekens 2008); 2) the trade with neighbor farmers (Beck 2012) and 3) the use of disposable ceramics (Gibbs 2012). We consider that all of them are applicable to our area and this sample.