CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

st1:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } Several lithic artefacts that belong to hunter-gatherer´s occupations from Quebrada Seca 3 site during the Middle Holocene -Southern Puna of Argentina, between ca. 5000-4700 years BP-, are analyzed, are analyzed. These stone tools have been defined as stemmed projectile points whose blades were intensively maintained resulting in asymmetric shapes. Besides, it was proposed the use of these artefacts as knives because their morphology when the artefacts were discarded. Trying to establish a more complete version of the life history of these artefacts, from projectile points to knives, as it is suggested by the techno-typological analysis, we developed a research design that includes several analytical microscopic and compositional techniques to identify the uses that were preserved over time. Information obtained through microwear use traces analysis and the study of microscopic residues -microfossils and chemical residues- in blades and stems, indicates that these artifact were used in several functions. Tools were last used as knives in generalized tasks, for plant and animal processing. The plant material processed includes roasted or dehydrated tuberous/root plants for food. The processing of animal material (skin, flesh and/or bone) was also developed with the artifacts as knives. As projectile points were used for penetration of animal preys and then were recycled as knives. Besides, evidences for hafting -foreshafts or handles- and adhesives use, were found. The use and life history results obtained from analyses of microfossil and other residue, microwear use traces, chemical and techno-typological, were mutually consistent. This contributed to the discussion of artifact?s life history and resource processing by the Middle Holocene hunter-gatherers of South Central Andes.