Historical contingencies in native fishing activities of the Beagle Channel (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina): the case of Imiwaia I site

ZANGRANDO, ATILIO FRANCISCO JAVIER; MARTINOLI, MARÍA PAZ

Taillinn

Workshop; Fish Remains Working Group, 17th Scientific Meeting; 2013

The Institute of History, University of Taillinn.

Hunter-fisher-gatherers of the Beagle Channel used diverse fish resources along their history (6400-100 years BP). Recent regional studies based on zooarchaeological evidence suggest that thes societies intensified fishing activities during the Late Holocene, in both coastal and pelagic enviroments. This intensification was characterized by a significant and diversified exploitation of pelagic species involving an extension to offshore sectors for resource procurement. Imiwaia I is a multi-component site, which was occupied between 5900 and 1500 years BP. In this paper we present and discuss the results of ichthyarchaeological analyzes developed for three assembleges: layers M, L and K (5900 and 5700 BP - NSP=51729), layer D (3000 years BP - NSP=10543) and layer B (1500 years BP - NSP=6524). Along the archaeological sequence of Imiwaia I site, an importan increase of pelagig species is observed: for example, Merluccius australis and Thyrsites atun have representations of 4% and 2% respectively in Middle Holocene assemblages, While the same species have 67% and 85% in assemblages of the Late Holocene; this is consistent with the regional patterns mentioned above. Nevertheless, coastal fish resources decrease along time, from a representation of 34% in Middle Holocen assemblages to 8% in later layers. We argue here that this discrepancy with the regional record is due to changes in the geomorphology of the Imiwaia Bay, affecting the marine conditions of the coast and the availability of coastal fish.