Landscape and human settlement dynamics in insular environments. An archaeological approach.

MANSUR M. E. ; HARDY K; PIQUE R.

La Circumpolaridad como Fenómeno Sociocultural. Pasado, Presente, Futuro

UBA-FCE

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2010; p. 433 - 450

            Archaeological research in island territories of the subarctic and subantarctic regions at opposite ends of the planet, have largely developed independently. Therefore independent interpretive frames have been developed to explore the dynamics of human settlement in the past, in particular with regard to hunter-gatherer societies. With respect of the northern hemisphere, the archaeological studies are part of the research tradition of Paleolithic / Mesolithic Europe, initially developed with a laregely terrestrial focus. In recent years new emphasis has been placed on research in coastal areas including in the subarctic area. Yet theoretical frameworks remain similar to those employed in the study of hunter-gatherers of the inland areas of temperate Europe. We have recently adopted a relatively new comparative approach, and we use as our starting point the differences in scales of analysis (environment, home ranges, etc.). In this paper we highlight some of the comparable features and offer a new perspective on the archaeological record and mobility of hunter-gatherer sites in Scotland using the ethnohistorical records from Tierra del Fuego.