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.

13th International Council of Archaeozoology Conference, 2018: Archaeological, biological and historical approaches in archaeozoological research

BAR publishing

Lugar: Oxford; Año: 2021; p. 75 - 83

Along the coast of San Matías Gulf (GSM, Patagonia, Argentina) it is common tofind otariid remains in the zooarchaeological record of terrestrial hunter-gatherers. Whereasfish were the main food resource, otariids served as an important secondary resource. However,knowledge about the exploitation patterns is scarce, due to the difficulties of distinguishing postcranial elements between otariids species. This identification requires the use of osteometricstudies. In this paper we present the results of the analysis of two zooarchaeological otariidassemblages dated in the late Holocene (Punta Odriozola and Parador QB; ca. 3000 and 1300years BP, respectively) recovered along the west coast of the GSM. The aim is to explore theclass of prey (species, sex and age selection) exploited. Osteometric results indicate that youngindividuals (0.3 to 2.75-year-old) of Arctocephalus australis were present in both assemblages,whereas the other species living in the area today (Otaria flavescens) was not identified. Inaddition, given that there are currently otariid colonies in the GSM, this study also providesinformation on the early distribution of these animals in the continental coast of Patagoniaduring the Late Holocene.