EXPLORING THE ZOOARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF OTARIIDS EXPLOITATION BY TERRESTRIAL HUNTER-GATHERERS ALONG THE WESTERN COAST OF SAN MATÍAS GULF, ARGENTINA

BORELLA, F.; L'HEUREUX, G. L.

Archaeozoology around the globe: Papers presented in the 13th International Council of Archaeozoology conference (Ankara, 2nd ? 7th September 2018)

British Archaeological Reports, Archaeopress.

Lugar: Oxford; Año: 2019;

Along the coast of the San Matías Gulf (GSM,Patagonia, Argentina) it is common to find otariid remains in thezooarchaeological record of terrestrial hunter-gatherers. Whereas fishes werethe main resource, otariids served as an important secondary resource. However,the knowledge about the exploitation patterns is scarce, due to thedifficulties of distinguishing post cranial elements between otariids species.This identification requires the use of osteometric studies. In this paper wepresent the results of the analysis of two zooarchaeological otariidassemblages dated in the late Holocene (Punta Odriozola and Parador QB; ca.3000 and 1300 years BP, respectively) recovered along the west coast of theGSM. The aim is to explore the class of prey (species, sex and age selection)exploited. Osteometric results indicate that young individuals (0.3 to 2.75year old) of Arctocephalus australiswere present in both assemblages, whereas the other specie living in the area today(Otaria flavescens) was not identified.In addition, given that there are currently otariid colonies in the GSM, thisstudy also provides information on the early distribution of these animals inthe continental coast of Patagonia during the Late Holocene.