Cacao 1: lithic evidences and mobility ranges during the Pleistocene at the AtacamaPuna(Antofagasta de la Sierra, Catamarca, Argentina).

ASCHERO, CARLOS A.; BOBILLO,F.; FAUNDES C., W.

Buenos Aires

Simposio; International symposium on knappable materials (ISKM), Bs.As. Noviembre 2017; 2017

IMICIHU-CONICET

Cacao 1 is a shelter with rock art is situated at the confluence of the Cacao and Curuto bogs, at 25°54?46? S. and 67°20?27.1?W. and at 3755 m.asl, in the Antofagasta de la Sierra Department, Catamarca. We here present a small lithic artifact assemblage-7 artifacts- composed of flaked tools, used flakes and debitage- all of which were found in a flat, horizontal position in level 5. This level is characterized by a matrix mainly composed of vegetal remains and a smaller proportion of fine sand, originated from the disaggregation and trampling of extinct fauna feces (megatherium, mylodon, horse). At the time of writing this abstract there are two dates of about 38,000 yr BP for this level, also the top of level 5 is dated at about 37,000 yr BP and its base at about 40,000 yr BP. An extension of the excavation during may 2017 yielded new evidences which currently are being dated. Lithic artifacts include obsidian from Ona or Salar de Hombre Muerto sources, quartzite and vulcanite from sources close to Antofagasta de la Sierra and a local vulcanite. These indicate a provisioning range of 80Km which is larger when considering also vegetal remains.