Raw material circulation at broad scales in southern Patagonia (Argentina)

FRANCO, NORA VIVIANA

Iasi

Congreso; Fifth Archeinvest Simposium, "Stories Written in Stone", International Symposium on Chert and other Knappable Materials; 2013

University of Iasi, Rumania

The extension of the home ranges of hunter-gatherer groups can be evaluated by examining the frequency and characteristics of the lithic raw materials they used. In order to do this, a good knowledge of the lithic regional structure is needed as well as a detailed study of artifact characteristics, such as their frequency, type of artifact, size and discard angle. The task is particularly difficult in cases of lithic secondary sources or when sedimentary rocks are transported, because of the internal variability within each source. This topic is especially important in the case of the Deseado Massif in South Patagonia. This was one of the first areas to have been used by hunter-gatherers and there is evidence of its utilization from the Pleistocene-Holocene transition to the late Holocene. In addition, it has different cave, water and raw material characteristics than nearby areas. Not only are there differences between the availability of siliceous rocks between the Deseado Massif and areas located to the south of it, where there are important basaltic outcrops, but also there is internal variability within the Massif itself. The aim of this study is to analyze raw material transport both within the Deseado Massif and between it and nearby spaces, based on the regional availability of different rock types, including siliceous rocks, diabase, and obsidian. Extensive surveys of raw material availability were carried out. Preliminary results on the frequency, type of artifact, size and discard angle are used to evaluate direct provisioning versus exchange of lithic raw materials, in order to understand human mobility in the past.