Long-term variations of marine fishing at the southern end of South America: perspectives from Beagle Channel Region

ZANGRANDO, A. F.

The Role of Fish in Ancient Time

Internationale Archäologie - Arbeitsgemeinschaft

Lugar: Rahden / Westf; Año: 2007; p. 17 - 23

The long-term relationship between fi sh and hunter-gatherers of the Magellan-Fueguian archipelago (Southern South America) is analysed in this paper. The examination of fi shbone assemblages from seven archaeological sites located in the Beagle Channel Region points to a distinct diversity of fi sh exploitation in different locations and at different periods over the last 6200 years. The exploitation of marine fi sh was more intensive during the last 500 years and at the same time a signifi cant increase in littoral fi shing took place. In recent assemblages a diversifi cation in fishing activities is also observed; the appearance of a new species could also suggest an improvement in fi shing strategies. These variations raise new questions about fi shing throughout the archaeological sequence of the Beagle Channel Region.