COMPOSICIÓN ISOTÓPICA DEL CARBONO Y EL NITRÓGENO EN CAMÉLIDOS ARQUEOLÓGICOS DE LA PUNA DE ATACAMA: UNA COMPARACIÓN ENTRE AMBAS VERTIENTES DE LOS ANDES

MONDINI, MARIANA; GRANT, JENNIFER; PANARELLO, HÉCTOR O.; SAMEC, C. T.; LOPEZ M, PATRICIO; NUÑEZ, L; CARTAJENA, ISABEL

Cuadernos del Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Pensamiento Latinoamericano - Series Especiales

INAPL

Lugar: Argntina; Año: 2019 vol. 7 p. 172 - 181

2362-1958

ABSTRACTIn this paper, we analyze the isotopic composition of carbon and nitrogen measured on bone collagen samples from archaeological camelids from the arid Pacific and Atlantic slopes of the Puna of Atacama. Our aim was: (1) to analyze the isotopic values taking into consideration the environmental variables and cultural trajectories involved; (2) to evaluate the ecological and anthropological implications of this isotopic information; and (3) to compare these data ?from a wide temporal and spatial focus? on both slopes of this Andean region. The database included 191 samples. The samples from the Pacific basin come from Tulán, Puripica and Punta Negra Salar in Chile, and range chronologically from the EarlyArchaic to the Early Formative period (10,000 to 2,400 BP). Those from the Atlantic basin came from Antofagasta de la Sierra and Susques in Argentina, and date to the Early Archaic through to the Late Period (10,000 to 410 BP). These camelid samples are from both wild (Lama guanicoe and Vicugna vicugna) and domestic species (Lama glama). The different species were identified namely using osteometric criteria. The results showed δ13C values ranging from -20.1 ? to -10.6 ? (mean = -17.0?) and δ15N values from 3.4 ? to 14.6 ? (mean = 7.8 ?). Chronological and spatial parameters were used to account for patterns in this variation, while also considering palaeoclimatic, altitudinal, taxonomic, taphonomic, and life-way variations within human groups.