INGEIS   05370
INSTITUTO DE GEOCRONOLOGIA Y GEOLOGIA ISOTOPICA
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Isotopic evidence in Holocene camelids from the southern Puna
Autor/es:
MONDINI. M.; PANARELLO, H.O.
Lugar:
Mendoza
Reunión:
Conferencia; 12th International Conference ICAZ; 2014
Institución organizadora:
Internarional Council for Archaeology
Resumen:
Camelid bones from Early and early MiddleHolocene archaeological sites ca. 10000 BP-6000 BP- from the southernArgentinean Puna have been analyzed to assess prehistoric camelid isotopic ecology and diet as indicated by d13C and d15N values. The samples are from hunter-gatherer occupations at sites Quebrada Seca 3, Cueva Salamanca 1, and Peñas de la Cruz 1.1, located in Antofagasta de la Sierra, Catamarca, in a high altitude dessert above 3500 m.a.s.l. Wild camelids,including the vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) and the larger guanaco (Lama guanicoe),have been the staple prey in the region throughoutthe Holocene.  Some fifty camelid bone collagen samples are informed here, most of which have not been reported before, and a few that were the first to be described for the region in this time period are included for comparative purposes. The mean carbon isotope value (d13C) is -16.9 permil, ranging from -20.1permil to -10.4 permil. The analyses suggest that camelid consumption of C4 and C3 plants has been on average about 2:3, and there appears to be no strong correlation with temporal, altitudinal or other variations. The mean nitrogen isotope value (d15N) is 7.7permil, samples ranging from 4.3 permil to 10.8 permil. The C/N ratios, which average 3.4, are consistent with the good sample preservation observed macroscopically.