Weathering patterns in bones from recent vertebrates in the Pampas region, Argentina.

GUTIÉRREZ, M. A.; GONZÁLEZ, M. E; RAFUSE, D. J.; SCHEIFLER, N. A.; KAUFMANN, C. A.; ALVAREZ, M. C.; MASSIGOGE, A.

Ankara

Congreso; 13TH ICAZ INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE; 2018

Ankara University

Bone weathering is a world-wide destructive process which influences the overall preservation of vertebrate remains and masks other bone modifications (such as cut marks and carnivore action). During the last twelve years we have been documenting weathering data in a study of naturally deposited vertebrate remains in the Pampas region (Argentina). The main objective of this study is to generate taphonomic models about natural processes responsible for accumulation, destruction and burial of bones, intended to be used in the interpretation of bone assemblages from archaeological sites. Transect surveys have been conducted in this study to record natural bone distribution in a variety of environmental contexts. Until present, we have covered a total area of 1,046,130 m2, distributed along the coast (501,900 m2), hills (179,310 m2), river valleys (135,300 m2), lagoons (126,670 m2), shallow lakes (75,000 m2), and plains (27,950 m2). We have recorded environmental data and taphonomic modifications on disarticulated bones and articulated bones, and carcasses. In this poster, we focus in weathering data, in order to evaluate the consequences of this process in different environments and the destruction of bones from different sized vertebrates. The main results indicate that weathering is more frequent in the plains and the coast. We consider that this information provides a frame of reference for archaeologists to interpret assorted weathering stages in the archaeofaunal assemblage.