Human predation and Natural history of huemul (CERVIDAE; Hippocamelus bisulcus Molina) in Patagonia: A Zooarchaeological Analysis

FERNÁNDEZ, P.; CRUZ, I.; BELARDI, J.; DE NIGRIS, M.; A. SEBASTIÁN MUÑOZ

Journal of Ethnobiology

Society of Ethnobiology (EE.UU.)

Lugar: Tacoma, WA; Año: 2015 vol. 35 p. 472 - 498

We use published zooarchaeological evidence to discuss the various hypotheses concerning past distribution of huemul in Patagonian region. We then use these data to evaluate the interactions between this cervid and hunter-gatherers during the Holocene. The zooarchaeological record shows that huemul mainly inhabited forested and forest ?steppe ecotonal environments during the Holocene. The huemul was hunted in exceptional circumstances during the early occupation of Patagonia. Its presence in the zooarchaeological record of South Patagonia increases after 9,500 BP and is increasingly frequent after 2,200 BP. However, the taxonomic contribution of the species´ bone remains to the archaeological record is always low. The few assemblages where there are a high number of huemul bones were the result of opportunistic hunting episodes. This in turn suggests that hunting of huemul had little or no influence on the animal?s regional distribution along time. However, the progressively more human presence in some forested areas towards the end of the Holocene could have affected huemul populations at the local scale. The zooarchaeological information presented in this paper illustrates the interspecific relationships on the long run and, hence, should be an essential tool to enriching future management strategies for this species in Argentina and Chile.