Exploitation of small vertebrates in the eastern Pampa-Patagonia transition (Argentina) during the Middle Holocene

ALCARAZ, ANA PAULA; STOESSEL, LUCIANA; MARTÍNEZ, GUSTAVO

San Rafael

Congreso; 12 th International Conference for Archaeozoology; 2014

Museo de Historia Natural de San Rafael

Zooarchaeological studies conducted on the lower course of the Colorado River (province of Buenos Aires, Northeastern Patagonia) indicated that small vertebrates were systematically incorporated into subsistence during the Final Late Holocene (ca. 1000-250 years BP). During this period, there is evidence of an intensive use of some resources, such as artiodactyls, fish, and vegetables. Moreover, diet was complemented by a broader spectrum of taxa when compared with the Initial Late Holocene (ca. 3000-1000 years BP), and small-sized vertebrates from different environments were incorporated into subsistence. However, we have recently conducted the research of two new sites (La Modesta and Loma de los Morteros) dated to the Middle Holocene (ca. 5600-4200 years BP). In these sites, small vertebrate bones were recorded and provide new faunistic information to test and broaden the subsistence model previously proposed. Thereby, the aim of this presentation is to evaluate the role of small-sized vertebrates in the subsistence during the Middle Holocene, and to compare it with the recorded trends for the Initial and Final Late Holocene. Results showed that several species of small vertebrates, such us freshwater fish, rodents, and birds, would have been already exploited during the Middle Holocene. We will discuss the implications of this information at areal and regional (Northeastern Patagonia) levels.