New records of pre-Hispanic dogs (Canis familiaris) in Argentinean Northeast

CASTRO, JUAN CARLOS ; BONOMO, MARIANO; GONZÁLEZ VENANZI, LUCIO; PREVOSTI, FRANCISCO JUAN; CORNERO, SILVIA

Encuentro; 83rd Annual Meeting Society for American Archaeology; 2018

Canis familiaris has a limited record in pre-Hispanic archaeological sites of Southern South American, but in the last decade, more specimens were published. In this context, we present new remains domestic dogs from five archaeological sites along the Paraná and Uruguay Rivers in the Northeast of Argentina. We also discuss their roles within human societies. The studied sample includes seven cranial and one postcranial specimens corresponding to seven individuals, that comprise youngs and adult. Estimated body size indicates that they belong to medium sized dogs (13-23 kg). Some they present anthropic cut and impact marks, and carnivore marks. Three specimens were dated, one in 1119 ± 23, other in 1910 ± 29, and the last in 2413 ± 28 14C years B.P. It is concluded that in the Argentine Northeast Canis familiaris presents greater age variability and slightly larger sizes than previous records. The 14C dates extend the chronological range known for the Argentina, Uruguay y Brazil. Its presence is linked to hunter-gatherer-fishers and horticulturalist populations with a marked fluvial adaptation. Evidence of anthropic processing indicates possible human consumption during the late Holocene.