Coastal archaeology and hunter-gatherers in the south-eastern of Tierra del Fuego

ZANGRANDO A. F.

Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology

Routledge. Taylor and Francis Group

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2010 vol. 5 p. 288 - 291

1556-4894

The south-eastern coasts of Tierra del Fuego are archaeologically multifaceted landscapes. This may be due to the fact that these settings served as zones of interactions between biologically, culturally, and linguistically distinct co-resident groups. Abundant ethnographic information indicates that the south-eastern coast of Tierra del Fuego was inhabited by both maritime (Yámana) and terrestrial (Selk´nam and Haush) populations of hunter-gatherers. Although these populations maintained exchange and marriage relationships, their lifestyles were markedly different. This population pattern is well known in historic times, but the timing and structure are still unclear for prehistoric times. In an effort to improve our knowledge on the use of coastal environments and social interaction by different groups of hunter-gatherers of Tierra del Fuego, I started with an archaeological project in Moat. This is a region located in the central section of the south coast of this island, and includes all of the homonymous river basin, and the coastline extending from the mouth of Cambaceres River to Sloggett Bay. No archaeological research was previously developed in this region. The first goals of this project are to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution of sites, and to explore the composition of archaeological assemblages to assess the use of space and resources by hunter-gatherer populations. I think that this research could assist in identifying contrasting subsistence and technological strategies of those groups at the same or at different points in time, and could provide clues about past habitat use and competitive/cooperative social relationships associated with resource procurement.