Assemblage, artifact and attribute as three levels of analysis relevant to the understanding of lithic raw materials selection. A case study from the South Central Andes (Pastos Grandes Basin, Province of Salta, Argentina)

FEDERICO RESTIFO

Congreso; International Symposium of Knappable Materials"; 2017

Within the lithic artifacts production sequence, in this work we focalize in one of the first steps: rocks selection. We ask the following question: What were the crucial factors for lithic raw material selection along the Holocene in Pastos Grandes Basin (Provincia de Salta) (e.g. mobility, rock quality, distance, technological requiements, etc)? With the aim of arribe to an explanation, we propose a multi-level analysis utilizing units of decreasing inclusivity (taxonomy): assemblage, artifact and atributte. We evaluate rocks frequencies in each one of these units, or different levels, taking in to account lithics assemblages of the Alero Cuevas, a site with an archaeological sequence extended along the Holocene. The regional archaeologial record is also considered. The process of residential mobility reduction in South Central Andes, iniciated during the Middle Holocene, is ussually considered as the main cause for explain local raw materials increasing frequencies. Nevertheless, specifical raw material requirements of artifacts made on blades is presented as an alternative explanation, indicating different causes for raw material selection in local spatial scales.