New Results Concerning Expanded Networks of Obsidian Procurement in San Mat´ıas Gulf, R´ıo Negro, Patagonia, Argentina

ALBERTI JIMENA; CARDILLO MARCELO; STERN CHARLES; FAVIER-DUBOIS CRISTIAN

Journal of Island and coastal archaeology

Taylor & Francis Group,

Año: 2016 vol. 11 p. 435 - 442

In this article we characterize the obsidian types present along theSan Matias Gulf coast through geochemical analyses and we perform atecho-morphological analyses of the recovered artifacts. Also,we presenta new obsidian type that has been found for the first time in the Atlanticcoast of Patagonia. By this means we hope to better evaluate trendsin the circulation and use of this raw material in the San Mat´ıas Gulfduring the Middle and Late Holocene. As a result, we propose that thereis a differential distribution between northern and southern Patagoniaand among coastal sites (black and gray obsidians). This disparity couldbe mainly related to spatial distance, or to different mobility patterns ofthe human groups or to differential availability of the sources during theyear.Growing evidence also suggests different raw material circulation.