An insight into human mobility in South Patagonia through information from lithic raw materials availability areas, artifacts distribution and characteristics, Linkage Pathways and Least Cost Paths analysis

NORA FRANCO; GILIO, BRENDA LUDMILA; VETRISANO, LUCAS

Budapest

Simposio; 12th International Symposium on Knappable Materials; 2019

Hungarian National Museum

An insight into human mobility in South Patagonia through informationfrom lithic raw materials availability areas, artifacts distribution andcharacteristics, Linkage Pathways and Least Cost Paths analysisAuthors:Franco, Nora Viviana (IMHICIHU-CONICET / University of Buenos Aires, FFyL,Buenos Aires, Argentina - nvfranco2008@gmail.com)Gilio, Brenda Ludmila (CIT Santa Cruz CONICET-UNPA)Vetrisano, Lucas (IMHICIHI-CONICET)Form of communication: oral lectureSession: Ancient lithic trade and economics IDay 2 (19 November) 9:30-10:50Detailed recording of the extension of potential secondary sources of lithic raw materials isimportant to understand human mobility and circulation, especially in regards to huntergatherer societies. Here we will analyze the case of the area located between the SouthernDeseado Massif and the Upper and Middle Santa Cruz River Basin (Patagonia, Argentina),which has had a discontinuous human occupation between the Pleistocene-Holocenetransition and the Late Holocene.Three secondary sources of black obsidian with a similar geochemical composition anddifferences in the size of the cobbles available have been found at the North of our studyarea and to its Northwest. Their primary source remains unknown. Siliceous rocks of verygood and excellent quality have been recovered both as primary and secondary sources atthe Southern Deseado Massif, only some of them have a localized distribution, which hasallowed us to establish general availability areas. Although sampling has been carried outin the plateaus and basaltic canyons to the South of the study area, none of these rawmaterials have been discovered until the moment.In this case, we analyze the frequency, size and characteristics of artifacts made from blackobsidian and other siliceous rocks recovered between the Southern Deseado Massif and theNorth of the Santa Cruz River Basin. Results obtained are compared with modelsdeveloped using Geographical Information Systems in order to understand humancirculation and utilization of these spaces. We use topography based Linkage Pathwaysbetween ecological zones which may have attracted human populations in these semiaridenvironments, as well as Least Cost Paths analysis between archaeological sites, which arebased on the slope, presence of basaltic plateaus, water sources and snow load. Results arecomplemented with those coming from other lines of evidence.Keywords: Patagonia, human mobility, raw material availability, Linkage Pathways, LeastCost Path Analysis