Engraved stone plaquettes from Norpatagonian area (Somuncurá plateau, Río Negro, Argentina) and the use of different microscopic techniques for their analysis

LYNCH VIRGINIA; VARGAS GARIGLIO JORGELINA; TERRANOVA ENRIQUE

World archaeology

Taylor & Francis

Lugar: London; Año: 2018 vol. 50

0043-8243

The aim of this paper is to present the first record of engraved stone plaques recovered at the Laguna Azul site (LA-P3) located in the Somuncurá plateau (Río Negro, Argentina). The stone plaques record is wide and varied in Argentina and especially in North Patagonian area; however it is mostly collections or surface materials that not allowed providing contextual information.The LA-P3?s engraved plaques are associated with Late Holocene dates and in this paper we describe the designs and motifs identified, as well as we present complementary studies using different microscopy techniques.The LA-P3?s plaques recorded red residues (possible pigments), that were analyzed from electron microscopy (SEM) and elemental microanalysis (EDX), the results allowed identifying high proportions of iron and titanium. This paper constitutes an important advance in relation to the stone plaques register in stratigraphic sequence and provides novel information related to the techniques used in their production.