Bioarchaeology in the southern cone of South America: Pampa, Patagonia and Uruguay

GORDÓN, FLORENCIA; SCABUZZO, CLARA; FIGUEIRO GONZALO

Smithsonian Institution´s Contributions to Anthropology Series,

Smithsonian Institutions

Año: 2019

The aim of this chapter is to present the historical development and current status of the research in bioarcheology in a sector of the Southern Cone of South America. The areas under consideration are the Pampas and Patagonia regions (Argentina) and Uruguay. On one hand we analyzethe historical background of biological anthropology in the region since the late nineteenth century to the present day. On the other hand, we present the archaeological sites with human remains from the three regions. From the perspective of these aspects (history of the discipline and characteristics of the bioarchaeological record), we discuss some trends linked with the use of specific places for burial purposes. Particularly, we focus on changes in frequency and distribution of the burial sites in space and time, and changes in the modes of burial and the persistence of use of certain places.