Pre-Hispanic settlements in hydrometeorologically susceptible areas during the late Holocene: The Upper Delta of the Paraná River Case.

CASTIÑEIRA, C.; APOLINAIRE, E.; BLASI, A.; BONOMO, M.; POLITIS, G.; BASTOURRE, L.; MARI, F.

HOLOCENE (SEVENOAKS)

SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD

Año: 2017 vol. 27 p. 1 - 11

0959-6836

In this paper, we present the results of the geoarchaeological studies carried out in two archaeological localities of the Upper Delta of the ParanáRiver (Argentina). The main objective of these studies is to depict the pre-Hispanic strategies involved in the colonization and settlement of southernSouth America wetlands. Paraná Delta is one of the most conspicuous areas of these lowlands and comprises a large wetland macrosystem. Its currentgeomorphological configuration was established after the last transgressive mid-Holocene event c. 6000 14C yr BP. In this environment, a high ecologicalheterogeneity, with diverse and abundant tropical and temperate biota, was developed. These features were important factors to the human colonizationand utilization of these wetlands. However, this environment has the highest hydrometeorological susceptibility of La Plata basin. This susceptibility had animpact on settlement systems and resource exploitation strategies established in the area since at least 2000 14C yr BP. These strategies involved at leasttwo settlement types: semi-permanent residential camps and transitory camps oriented to exploit particular resources. The semi-permanent settlementswere located in anthropogenic elevated mounds, locally known as ?cerritos?, and were not subjected to seasonal inundations. Conversely, the transitorycamps are found in levees exposed to recurrent flooding.