Analysis of hair remains from a hunter-gatherer grave from Patagonia: taxonomic identification and archaeological implications

L. PRATES; F. BALLEJOS; A. BLASI

Journal of Archaeological Sciences: Reports

Elsevier

Año: 2016 vol. 8 p. 142 - 146

In this paper,the results of the analysis of hair remains from a hunter-gatherer grave from northernPatagonia are presented. One of the samples analysed consisted in hair thatremained attached to the hide used to manufacture a small pouch left in theburial pit as a funerary offering, whereas a second sample was taken from theinside of the same pouch. The taxonomic determination of such hairs wasperformed by considering the cross-sections, the patterns of the medulla, andthe shape and disposition of the cuticle scales by microscopic observation of moldsof the hair surfaces. Based on these observations, samples were identified asbelonging to Lagidium viscacia and Homo sapiens, respectively. Though the exploitationof Lagidium hide has been archaeologicallyobserved in the Andean region of South America, there is no information on thispractice among Patagonian hunter-gatherers, nor on hair being offered as gravegood.