Temporal trends in avifaunal resource management by prehistoric sea nomads of the Beagle Channel region (Southern South America)

TIVOLI, ANGÉLICA MONTSERRAT

Birds in Archaeology. Proceedings of the 6th Meeting of the ICAZ Bird Working Group in Groningen

Barkhuis. Groningen University Library

Lugar: Groningen (Países Bajos); Año: 2010; p. 131 - 140

In this paper temporal trends in the prehistoric exploitation of bird resources by the southernmost sea nomads of the World are explored. The archaeofaunal analyses of three archaeological sites (Mischiuen I, Shamakush I and Imiwaia I) located on the north shore of theBeagle Channel are presented; spanning from 6400 BP to the 19th century. Firstly, the evidence of changes in birds species selection and its relation to diversity and availability is discussed in a temporal perspective throughout the entire archaeological sequence. Secondly, contrasts between the exploitation of different bird taxa and its relation to the use of mammal and fish resources are documented. It is argued that birds have been a systematic nutritional intake in the prehistoric subsistence organization of the Beagle Channel region native societies.