Late Holocene palaeoenvironments of the Nutria Mansa 1 archaeological site, Argentina

BONOMO, M, ZUCOL, A. GUTIÉRREZ TÉLLEZ, B., CORADEGHINI, A. & VIGNA, M.S.

Journal of Paleolimnology

Springer

Lugar: London; Año: 2009 p. 273 - 296

0921-2728

Abstract            This paper introduces the results of interdisciplinary palaeoenvironmental research carried out in the sedimentary sequence of Nutria Mansa 1 archaeological site. This Late Holocene site is located in the Pampean plains. The siliceous microfossil were recorded (phytoliths, diatoms, chrysophytes, sponges) and microcharcoal  were analyzed. In addition, fauna identified at the site were correlated with the regional paleoclimatic evidence. Based on the microfossil associations, we concluded that the human occupations were held in a fluvial and brackish lacustrine setting. Grass communities were located on its margins that developed under a warm tempered climate with evidence for dryness and marked seasonality in part of the record. Although some stratigraphic and faunal evidence indicate a possible temperature increase, these fluctuations were not sufficient to extirpate mammals of arid and cold environments.