Population convergence in the Strobel plateau: a discussion based on the study of lithic raw materials variability

FLORES CONI, J

Congreso; 11th International Symposium on Knappable Materials; 2017

Rock art research carried out in the Strobel plateau (Santa Cruz province, Patagonia, Argentina) has shown that population convergence took place in this area, where information was concentrated and distributed on a supra-regional scale (Belardi and Goñi 2006; Goñi 2010; Re 2010; Goñi et al. 2014). The central position of this plateau in the province´s steppe would also be a crucial factor regarding this process (Belardi and Goñi 2006). In this context, the aim of this work is to study this idea of population dynamics given the evidence from lithic technology. In order to do this, we first consider the analysis of variability and provenance of lithic raw materials used for the manufacture of artifacts. It is important to highlight that after 15 years of research carried out in the Strobel plateau we have not found any lithic source. However, previous work suggests the lithic resources used in the Strobel plateau are located in nearby areas. Therefore, when analyzing the variability, provenance and distance of sources, this work seeks to discuss the access to the plateau and the regional circulation axes within the context of population convergence.