Archaeofaunas from Laguna Tres Reyes 1 site: taxonomic richness and abundance during the beginning of Late Holocene in South Eastern Pampean Region (Argentina).

SALEMME, MÓNICA; MADRID, PATRICIA

Taphonomy and Zooarchaeology in Argentina,

Archaeopress - BAR (British Archaeological Reports)

Lugar: Oxford; Año: 2007; p. 121 - 142

ARCHEOFAUNAS FROM LAGUNA TRES REYES 1 SITE:  TAXONOMIC RICHNESS AND ABUNDANCE  DURING THE BEGINNING OF LATE HOLOCENE IN SOUTH-EASTERN PAMPEAN REGION (ARGENTINA) Mónica Salemme* and Patricia Madrid** *Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas, C.C. 92, (9410) Ushuaia, Argentina ** Departamento Científico Arqueología, Museo de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, 1900. La Plata; INCUAPA, Olavarría, Argentina             Results obtained from the analysis of archaeofaunal remains coming from Laguna Tres Reyes 1 site (TR1), located in the Interserrana Area of the Pampean region, is presented herein. Abundance and taxonomic richness of faunal species from the Holocenic occupations are analysed. In the sample of 1800 bone remains, 45% has been assigned to different taxonomic levels. The recorded species (camelid, deer, armadillos, pampean ostrich-like) are distributed mainly in the stratigraphic units A and B, in similar percentages, except the remains of extinct species (equid and giant sloth), which are limited to the unit C. Bones of two introduced species (european equid and a rodent) were recorded specially concentrated in two small sectors and up to 0.40 cm in depth, that is present soil and were considered as intrusive.             Nowadays, the studies of technologies, site formation processes and spatial intra-site distribution, led us to infer at least two occupational events in the northern margin of the lake beween 2,400 and 1,800 years B.P. According to the characteristics of the fauna, several hypotheses about the economy, the environmental evolution and the historical occupation of the site are discussed, under an ample context of the latest hunter-gatherers from the Pampean Region. However, another hypothesis must be added taking into account a probable earlier occupation considering the record of pleistocenic species, if the association to the archaeological context could be definitively proved.