Late Holocene human occupations and hunting technologies at the Laguna Azul site (Somuncurá plateau, Río Negro, Argentina)

LYNCH VIRGINIA; HERMO DARIO; LAURA MIOTTI

Boletim do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi. Ciências Humanas

Museo Goeldi

Lugar: Belen; Año: 2020 vol. 15

1981-8122

Here we present an initial characterization of projectile point designs recovered from the Laguna Azul site, Parapet 3(LA-P3), located in the Somuncurá Massif (Río Negro, Argentina). Our goal was to investigate the hunting technologiesimplemented by the hunter-gatherer groups that inhabited this site during the Late Holocene (ca. 1900 years BP). Weanalyzed different design variables and considered aerodynamics, reinforcement surface, and shaft system according tothe functional model proposed by Ratto (2003). Supplementary micro-wear analyses were also conducted in order togenerate additional data related to the shapes and materials utilized in the shaft system. These analyses identified blackmicro-residues in the basal sectors, while macroscopic assessments of the design manufacture indicated that differentmanufacturing stages were involved (pre-shaping, basic forms, maintenance, and recycling) as well as the use of at leasttwo technical systems used to capture prey (bow and arrow and throwing spears or darts).