The Role of Hog-nosed Skunk in the Subsistence of Hunter-Gatherers of the Pampean Region of Argentina

ALVAREZ, M. C.; GUTIERREZ, M A.; KAUFMANN, C. A.

Austin, Texas

Congreso; 79th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology; 2014

Society for American Archaeology

Hog-nosed skunks (Conepatus chinga) are native carnivores with crepuscular and solitary behavior. They are notorious for their anal scent glands, which serve a defensive purpose. Although skunk bones are not very common in archaeological sites, the degree of interaction between skunks and pampean hunter-gatherers has not been discussed in detail. The objective of this paper is to present and discuss evidence of this species in Paso Otero 4 (PO4, pampean region of Argentina) and to evaluate its presence at a regional scale in order to more broadly discuss the role of skunk in human prehistory. Moreover, information from chronicles and historical documents were compiled to generate hypotheses about the potential use given to this resource during the Holocene. In PO4, 13 hog-nosed skunk specimens were recovered and dated between ca. 8900 to 4600 years B.P. Cut marks, thermal alteration, and tooth marks on these remains were identified. A detailed evaluation of tooth marks was conducted and double arch punctures and crescent-shaped pits which are characteristics of human chewing were recognized. Results enable us to propose that this animal was an occasional prey for hunter-gatherers and was more common in the local faunal repertoire than previously believed