Xerophytic Forest Record of the Pleistocene/Holocene Transition and Use of Wood Resources by Early Human Groups in the Eastern Tandilia Range, Argentina

MAZZANTI DIANA.; BREA MARIANA; MARTINEZ GUSTAVO

PaleoAmerica

Taylor and Francis Ltd

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2020 vol. 6 p. 234 - 249

2055-5563

This contribution analyzes the charcoal records found in archaeological sites dating to thePleistocene/Holocene transition (9032 ± 30 - 10,672 ± 56 radiocarbon years ago) located in theeastern Tandilia Range, Buenos Aires province, Argentina. The archaeological charcoal identifiedfor the Pleistocene/Holocene transition were Celtis ehrenbergiana, Salix humboldtiana, Schinus sp.,Colletia sp., Baccharis sp., and Senecio sp. Charcoals with high caloric values and longcombustible duration were an excellent source of heat and were probably used by huntergatherersfor heating, cooking, and lighting. The presence of xerophytic forests at least from ca.10,000 radiocarbon years ago in the eastern Tandilia Range were inferred by the record ofC. ehrenbergiana found in four archaeological sites during the Pleistocene/Holocene transition.During this period, vegetation developed under a cold arid to semi-arid climate.