Environmental dynamics and formation processes at the pampean archaeological locality Zanjón Seco, Argentina

FAVIER DUBOIS, C. M.; POLITIS, G.

Geoarchaeology

Wiley

Lugar: Washington; Año: 2017 vol. 32 p. 622 - 632

1520-6548

Zanjón Seco is an important late Holocene archaeological locality in the Argentine Pampas, producingthe oldest traces of pottery in the region as well as significant evidence for ancient huntergathererlifestyles. Despite its importance, the formation processes resulting in the subsurfaceconcentration of artifacts and bones have not been studied. Here, we present geoarchaeologicalstudies carried out from a pedostratigraphic perspective that link the dynamics of sedimentationin the area (pulses of loess) with particular pedological processes associated with the biomechanicalaction of soil biota, mainly earthworms. We suggest that these explain both the burial andvertical distribution of archaeologicalmaterials at this locality.