Analyses of the faunal assemblage from the Las Toscas 5 site: a middle Holocene hunter-gatherer site from the southeastern Pampa Region (Argentina)

MASSIGOGE, A.; RAFUSE, D. J.; RODRÍGUEZ, M. N.; RODRÍGUEZ, J. M.; TORINO, R. F.; STEFFAN, P. G.; FAVIER DUBOIS, C.

San Rafael

Congreso; 12th International Conference ICAZ; 2014

12th International Conference ICAZ

The Las Toscas 5 site is an open air site located along the margin of a shallow lake in the southeastern Pampa Region (province of Buenos Aires, Argentina). An archaeological assemblage composed of faunal remains, lithic artifacts, mineral pigments as well as isolated human bones was recovered. A radiocarbon date in ca. 4700 14C yr B.P. was obtained from a guanaco (Lama guanicoe, Camelidae) bone. The aim of this paper is to present the preliminary results of the zooarchaeological and taphonomic analyses conducted on the faunal remains. The main objectives are to evaluate the site formation processes and to discuss the animal resource exploitation at the site in relation to regional subsistence models for the middle Holocene (6500-3500 years BP). For this time period, archaeological sites are scarce in the Pampa Region and, as a result, the hunter-gatherer subsistence pattern is currently under debate. Different mammal species were identified at the Las Toscas 5 site, including ungulates, carnivores, armadillos, rodents and extinct ground sloth (exclusively dermal ossicles). Only a few bird and reptile specimens were recovered. Clearly, the main prey exploited at the site was the guanaco, while the presence of other animals is likely due to occasional hunting or natural incorporation into the deposit by burrowing and root action.