Faunal Analyses and Human Biogeography: Stratified Cave Records from the Pali Aike Lava Field, Southern Patagonia, Argentina

F. MARTIN; L. BORRERO; R. BARBERENA

México DF (México)

Congreso; ICAZ International 10th Conference; 2006

International Council for Zooarchaeology

We present an evaluation of human biogeography and subsistence behavior on the basis of taphonomic, faunistic, and geoarchaeological analyses from the Cóndor 1 site, located on a volcanic cave in the Pali Aike Lava Field (southern Patagonia, Argentina). This region can be described as a “caves landscape”, since these features are locally conspicuous. The faunal sequence from this site includes megafaunal remains not associated to anthropic activities at its base, followed by intensive traces of human presence during the Late Holocene. Altogether with evidences from other caves in Pali Aike, we consider changes in abundance, density and taxonomy of vertebrate remains through time. The analysis of processing patterns, carnivore marks and other taphonomic properties are used for a discussion of the different agents involved in the faunal accumulation. Inferences about human biogeography and mobility between coastal and hinterland environments of southern Patagonia are finally discussed.