TAPHONOMIC ANALYSIS OF OTARID BONE REMAINS: THE CASE OF THE SOUTH COAST OF TIERRA DEL FUEGO ANÁLISIS TAFONÓMICO DE LOS RESTOS ÓSEOS DE OTÁRIDOS: EL CASO DE LA COSTA SUR DE TIERRA DEL FUEGO

MARTINOLI, MARÍA PAZ; GUTIÉRREZ, MARÍA A.; ZANGRANDO, ATILIO FRANCISCO J.

Comechingonia

Instituto de Estudios Historicos

Año: 2021 vol. 25 p. 183 - 209

0326-7911

Specific taphonomic analyses on the frequency of anatomical parts in pinniped bone assemblages have been less frequent compared to those of terrestrial mammals. However, zooarchaeological studies also indicate an interdependence between bone mineral density values (BMD) and economic utility indices (%MUI), which advises the misconception of weighing transport strategies over postdepositional processes. In this article, we propose to analyse separately the preservation conditions of four pinniped archaeological assemblages from Beagle Channel according to skeletal element survival. Considering previous taphonomic studies from coastal sectors of Tierra del Fuego-Patagonia, two groups of elements are defined according to bone mineral density and pattern of carnivore consumption. Results indicate that postdepositational processes played a central role in most of the studied assemblages. Our conclusion is that transport strategies in pinnipeds are difficult to recognize due to the influence of taphonomic factors on anatomical profiles. In turn, this result should be considered for the use of economic utility models to perform archaeological interpretations.