Black obsidian from Pampa del Asador (Santa Cruz, Patagonia Argentina): a regional source.

CASSIODORO G.; GOÑI, R.; ESPINOSA, S.; AGNOLIN, A.; FLORES CONI J.

Simposio; 11th International Symposium on Knappable Materials; 2017

Lithic artifacts manufactured in black obsidian from Pampa del Asador have a high spatial distribution in Central Patagonia. Different geochemical analyzes have determined its distribution from Magellan?s Strait to Chubut province (Stern 2004).First research works in Pampa del Asador had determined the characteristics of this source (Espinosa and Goñi 1999). Subsequently, the distribution of smaller pebbles to the east (Belardi et al. 2006) and southeast of the area (Franco et al. 2017) was established.Also, the distribution of this lithic resource had been addressed to discuss mobility and circulation of human groups in Patagonia (Espinosa and Molinari 1999, Civalero 1999, Re et al. 2014, Fernández et al. 2014, among others). The aim of this presentation is to display new information about the distribution, density and size of obsidian pebbles at Pampa del Asador. New outcrops are detailed and linked to regional archaeological information. With the information available, the focus is to discuss the concept of procurement area and the role of Pampa del Asador in hunter-gatherers mobility.