CAMBIOS DEL PAISAJE DURANTE EL FORMATIVO EN LA REGIÓN ANDINA DEL NOA Y CHACO

JULIO JOSÉ KULEMEYER; GABRIEL CORTES; LILIANA C. LUPO

Crónicas materiales precolombinas : arqueología de los primeros poblados del Noroeste Argentino

Sociedad Argentina de Antropología

Año: 2015; p. 465 - 482

This paper presents a review of the main results of several multidisciplinaryprojects in northern Argentina, linked to late Holocene paleoenvironmentsin the Andean cordilleras and Chaco plains. The presented case studies canbe grouped into five geographic areas: Puna, Eastern Cordillera, SubandeanSierras, northwestern Sierras Pampeanas and the Chaco Plains. These wereselected for comparison because of similarities and complementarities of theenvironment and as valuable geoarchives to be integrated to the reconstructionof landscape history over the past millennia, which is also closely linked tohuman activities.Changes in geomorphodynamics since the Formative period, which are at leastpartly related to the increase of anthropogenic activities, are highlighted at aregional level. The Andean valleys suffered degradation processes that manifestin a reduced vegetation cover, widespread soil erosion and a progressive increasein extreme rainfall events. The impact of the re-activation of geomorphologicalprocesses had its effects on the Chaco plain. Due to increased sediment inputs,the lateral mobility of the great rivers enhanced. The environmental degradationwhich initiated during the Formative period, persists until today. The causesand processes related to their origin and development need to be further studiedin the future, to optimize land use planning.