Cazadores recolectores del Holoceno medio y superior de la cueva Haichol, región Cordillerana Central del Neuquén, República Argentina.

FERNANDEZ, J.; PANARELLO, H.0.

Relaciones de La Sociedad Argentina de Antropología

Sociedad Argentina de Antropología

Lugar: Buenos Aires, Argentina; Año: 2001 vol. 26 p. 9 - 30

0325-2221

ABSTRACT We present here eight C-AMS dates on, not diagenetically altered human crania bones. They were found in the Haichol cave, Neuquén, Argentina. The resalís will be discussed in order to improve the knowledge about the chronology and the palaeodiet of its prehistorical occupants and the palaeoenvironmental conditions of the site. A first group of dates matches the middle early Holocene with ages between (6570 – 5850) calibrated years BP(2s), including human morphotypes of noticeable interest i.e. from the physic type "Paleoamerican", and others similar to that exhumed at the Cerro Sota, Chile. The second group comprises ages of (4530- 930) calibrated years BP (2s) that in accordance with the time span, shows a complex palaeoanthropological context. The isotopic contents of collagen, that also do not evidence postmortem alteration, show for both groups a diet based on continental resources. The second group (middle and late Holocene) show a slightly increase in animal protein in its diet, as indicated by the higher δ13C values. This may be the result of an increase in herbivore hunting (Lama guanicoe) in spite of the vegetable's gathering (Araucaria pinyon' s). It is also probable that  δ13C enriched values are due to the fact that bone collagen record more poorly the isotopic signature corresponding to carbohydrate intake with respect to protein intake. δ15N concentrations, low in both groups, show differences more easily due to environmental changes than to variations in the palaeodiet composition.