Economic and technological diversity in northwestern Patagonia, Argentina, during the Early Holocene.

FERNÁNDEZ, MABEL Y EDUARDO CRIVELLI

Eight International Conference on the Mesolithic in Europe

Oxbow Books

Lugar: Santander; Año: 2012;

Based upon available data, human settlement in northwestern Patagonia dates back to the beginning of the Holocene. The colonisation of this area involved the adaptation to different ecological zones: the forest or western zone; a narrow stretch corresponding to the forest-steppe ecotone, typical of the eastern Andean slope; and the Patagonian steppe extending from the foothills of the Andes to the east. During the tenth millennium BP, the economy of the first two zones depended on diversified hunting, which included a few big game species and numerous small game animals, and on gathering. Lithic technology was accordingly generalized. The remains left by the occupants of these zones are very scarce. By contrast, the economy of the steppe was oriented towards hunting guanaco (Lama guanicoe) and possibly also lesser rhea or ñandú (Pterocnemia pennata), by means of lithic tools especially designed for hunting and processing and made from high quality rock of local or rather distant origin. Occupation remains seem to be more abundant than in the above cases. At least since the eighth millennium BP, this type of economy spread to the ecotone. This dichotomy illustrates primarily the guanaco habitat, and more generally, the availability of resources in the forest and in open spaces, respectively.