Paleodietary inferences based on isotopic evidence for populations of the Central Mountains of Argentina during the Holocene

LAGUENS, ANDRES GUSTAVO; FABRA, MARIANA; DOS SANTOS, GUACIARA; DEMARCHI, DARIO ALFREDO

International Journal of Osteoarchaeology

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Año: 2008

1047-482X

The aim of this study is to investigate spatial and temporal patterns of paleodiet diversification through isotopic measurements (ä13C and ä15N) from individuals who lived in the Central Mountains of Argentina during the Holocene. Isotopic measurements were obtained from bone (5) and teeth (5) samples from 10 human skeletons, corresponding to the Middle and Late Holocene (4500-300 C14 ages BP).  As expected, results showed consumption of C3, C4, and CAM plants, which reflects a mixed diet. Variation observed among hunter-gatherer?s sites could be associated with possible differences in animal resources. On the other hand, evidence from agricultural sites could be indicating a more omnivorous diet, with greater emphasis in vegetable resources, as expected theoretically from the traditional opposition between hunter-gatherers and farmers. Regarding spatial variation, the ä13C results suggest light regional differences in diet in the later periods. This study provided a first step to evaluate the role played by maize agriculture and variability in diet in time and space for populations that inhabitated the Central Mountains during the Holocene. Although preliminary, evidence suggests that adoption of agriculture was complementary to hunter-gatherer strategies. However, the incorporation of cultigens seems to show regional differences. These results confirm the mixed character of the economy, previously inferred from other archaeological indicators.