Lithic raw material procurement and use patterns in the south of Baguales Range: Evidences from Cerro León 3 archaeological site (Santa Cruz Province, Argentina).

CATALINA BALIRAN; KAREN BORRAZZO

TARRAGONA

Simposio; 13th INTERNATIONAL SUMPOSIUM ON KNAPPABLE MATERIALS; 2021

INSTITUT CATALÀ DE PALEEOECOLOGIA HUMANA I EVOLUCIÓ SOCIAL (IPHES)

Cerro León 3 (CL3) is located in La Verdadera Argentina archaeological locality in thesoutheastern end of the Baguales Range (Santa Cruz Province, Argentina). First excavationconducted in CL3 (CL3-S1) showed a stratigraphy containing archaeologicalmaterial (mainly bone and lithics) in all its units. Radiocarbon dates indicated thehuman presence in the area since the Early Holocene. The study of lithic materialsrecovered at CL3-S1 led to the proposal that while a provisioning of places strategywas used in Early and Mid-Holocene occupations, the provisioning of individuals wasprioritized during the Late Holocene levels. Recent excavations (CL3-S6) provided newarchaeological assemblages dated exclusively to the Late Holocene.The aim of this work is to characterize the use of raw materials in CL3 throughout theHolocene focusing on the presence of local and non-local rocks and the patterns oftheir exploitation. Primary trends recorded along the CL3-S1 stratigraphic sequence(covering most of the Holocene) were also observed in CL3-S6: large complete toolswith fresh or still resharpenable edges produced on local raw materials, and a smallernumber of rock types in the lower levels of both samples. In the upper levels of CL3-S6we found smaller artifacts and an increasing variety of non-local rocks, including differenttypes of colored chalcedony, as observed in CL3-S1. Finally, and differing fromCL3-S1 sample, CL3-S6 showed a higher frequency of resharpening flakes and evidencesof lithic artifact reclamation. Our results suggest that although the use of rawmaterials varied through time, the debitage composition suggests that the activitieswere similar throughout the whole sequence. Finally, we propose general hunter-gathererland use patterns for La Verdadera Argentina through the Holocene.