Bone instruments from Northwestern Argentina, first millennium AD. A macro and microscopic approach to their functionality

IZETA, ANDRÉS D.; CATTÁNEO, GABRIELA ROXANA; SCATTOLIN, MARÍA CRISTINA; CORTÉS, LETICIA INÉS

Paris

Congreso; 11th Conference of International Council for Archaeozoology; 2010

International Council of Zooarchaeology

Bone instruments are not commonly found from Formative Period occupations in northwestern Argentina. While the paucity of this type of evidence is clear, a recurrent type is found: South American camelids metapodials with a standardized shape (a rounded shaped tip at the proximal epiphysis). On the other side, element profile of camelids from archaeological sites shows a tendency to present a lack of metapodials. This suggests that those elements were used as raw material for making very specific and standardized instruments. Based on the last assumption, macroscopic analysis was taken in order to assess the ways the instruments were used and the raw material procured. Preliminary results related with previous camelid handling and use models insinuate that soft material manufacture (e.g. weaving or basketry) can be one of the functions of such instruments.