Multiproxy taxonomic identification at Late Holocene Los Viscos archaeological site in the South-Central Andes

M. MONDINI; ANAHÍ HERNÁNDEZ; M. FORENCIA ARIAS; PETRIGH, R.S.; N. VELAZQUEZ; FUGASSA, M.H.

Oulu (virtual)

Congreso; 9th Meeting of the ICAZ Archaeozoology, Genetics, Proteomics and Morphometrics (AGPM) Working Group; 2021

Los Viscos rockshelter, in NW Argentina, has archaeological occupations ranging ca.680-1630 cal AD by agropastoral societies and, at the latest end of the sequence, abrief one during Hispanic-Indigenous early contact. Faunal remains are wellpreserved and include bones, faeces, pellets, hair, feathers and artefacts. We applieda multiproxy, interdisciplinary approach to identify the taxonomic richnessrepresented at the site. We identified bones and teeth with the usualzooarchaeological approach of morphological comparison to reference collections,and also applied morphometric analyses, both traditional and geometric. Herbivorepalaeofaeces morphology, ancient DNA (aDNA), parasite and pollen contents werealso analysed. This is the first morphometric information on South American camelidsin this area and the first multiproxy study of herbivore palaeofaeces in the South-Central Andes. The information was in turn correlated with previous studies on animalfibers, carnivore scats, raptor pellets, and animal representations in rock art. Thismultiproxy approach to the faunal record allowed robust inferences. Overall, itshowed the interaction of the local human groups with camelids, both domestic(Lama glama) and wild (Lama guanicoe and Vicugna vicugna), which make up thebulk of the archaeofaunal assemblage, and suggested different modes of interactionwith them, including hunting, gathering, grazing and also possibly exchange. Caprahircus was also identified by aDNA in some pellets?and not in bones?, suggesting anearly presence of this European herbivore. None of these camelids currently inhabitthe area, and goats introduced huge changes in the region. Thus, the study hassignificant palaeoenvironmental and cultural implications.