The story of landscape in Rio de la Plata region by means of archeobotanical and historical evidence

AUGE MELINA; GARCIA LERENA, MARIA SOLEDAD; PETRUCCI, NATALIA; STAMPELLA, PABLO; POCHETTINO, MARI­A LELIA

Recife

Congreso; VII International COngress of Ethnobotany; 2019

International Congress of Ethnobotany (ICEB)

The aim of this contribution is to characterize landscape history in Rio de La Plata shore (Buenos ires, Argentina) from the analysis of evidence provided by different research approachesand o analize changes and continuities in the interrelationship between plants and humans populations that inhabited this area. Three kinds of records have been considered, proceeding from archaeobotany, historical ethnobotany, and actualistic ethnobotany. Archaeobotanicalnalysis of microremains of both ceramic and litic material dating ca.1800 AP (that is previous o European contact) allowed to identify the use of local flora (Jodina rhombifolia (Hook. & .) Reissek, Ephedra tweediana Fisch. & C.A. Mey. emend. J.H. Hunz, Celtis tala Gillies ex Planch. and possibly, Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) Steenis), along with crops of american origin (Zea mays L. and Manihot esculenta Crantz). Different ways of processing have been identified such as grinding, heating (either toasted and/or boiled and smoked) and fermentation. Through historical ethnobotany, both printed (travelers diaries, farmer manuals) and unpublished documents (testament successions, measurement duplicates) the incorporation of new and raretree species was identified, that shaped a rural landscape according to the criteria prevailing in different moments. Finally, by means of ethnobotanical research different local views about native and introduced species have been recorded, as well as diverse conservation strategies, as social actors know, use and value exotic plants as local resources, the same as the native ones.From these approaches, the construction of present landscape can be appretiated. Huntinggathering- fishing and ceramist societies settled in ?tala? wood using local flora and introducing starchy crops, although it is not sure if they raised those plants or obtained them from social exchange. In the last five centuries, after the entrance of Europeans, this region became a spaceof rural exploitation, where the ?estancia? was consolidates as productive unity. Consequently the original landscape of ?tala? wood and grassland was gradually modified by the introduction of cattle and tree species valued with different purposes like fuelwood, edible fruits, shade or ornamental value. Along this process, nowadays landscape was shaped and trees are at presentperceived as own and identity-defining by local social actors.