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Abstract The main aim of this paper is to evaluate if certain processes that were documented in a specific area of Central-Southern Patagonia during the Late Holocene were also registered in a broader spatial scale. Previous investigations carried out in our study area located in Central-Western Santa Cruz province, Patagonia, have stated that climatic fluctuations during the Late Holocene (last 2500 years) were the cause of a reduction of hunter-gatherers' residential mobility. The new climatic conditions were characterized by important environmental droughts, which increased during the Mediaeval Climatic Anomaly, circa 900 years BP. This reduction in mobility resulted in concentrations of populations in low altitude basins and increased logistical and seasonal mobility, defined as a process of extensification. In this paper we take a broad spatial perspective to evaluate to what extent the low residential mobility identified in our research area had a correlation in a larger regional scale. Also we assess if this lead to a regional differentiation among hunter-gatherer populations, previous to European contact (450 years BP). In order to achieve these aims, we undertake a coarse grain analysis, using available data published on the composition and distribution of the archaeological record for Central-Southern Patagonia, an area of about 450.000 km2. Specifically, we consider evidence about technology, zooarchaeology, rock art, mortuary record and paleodietary studies. The analysis indicates that a reduced residential mobility could have occurred in certain areas of the study region, linked to the aforementioned climatic changes. On the issue of regional differentiation, the archaeological record highlights the complexity of this process. There are a variety of arguments both for and against the idea of a process of regionalization in Central-Southern Patagonia in the Late Holocene. We propose a process of differentiation of populations with low residential mobility which nonetheless remained connected through the circulation of goods, information and people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares quantitative and qualitative results from selected pottery assemblages in sites in the northern Philippines with those from sites in the Mariana Islands. Pottery appears in this region sometime between 4000 and 3000 years ago, with the pottery of the Marianas Islands being towards the younger end of this age range. Arguments concerning the origins of the first pottery in the Marianas have been dominated to date by the correlation of selected decorative and stylistic attributes of the Marianas pottery with that of pottery found in sites in Island Southeast Asia (ISEA). The similarities and differences in the pottery at the assemblage levels, however, have never been fully articulated. Recent arguments regarding the pottery have been specifically focused on perceived parallels between the early Marianas Red pottery and the early pottery of the Cagayan Valley in the northern Philippines. Although it has not been explicitly suggested that the northern Philippines was the immediate departure point for migrant boats, it has nevertheless been argued that there are more parallels between the pottery assemblages of these two regions than any others. This has even been a contributing factor in recent revisions to the Out of Taiwan model, which concerns the migration and dispersal of Austronesian language speakers. The results presented herein, however, show that there are distinct differences in the pottery technologies of the two regions that would not be expected if the sites are directly related. Consequently, there is no clear evidence that the pottery assemblages of the northern Philippines are ancestral to those of the Marianas. While both the early Marianas Red pottery and the northern Philippines pottery assemblages originate in a red-type pottery horizon that exists in both ISEA and the Marianas, the data to date suggests only a loose affinity between the assemblages, there being a high degree of variation in the constituent pottery characteristics between regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a study of firewood use and management by human groups in the Ongamira valley, Córdoba, Argentina (dated between c. 5700-950 BP). In order to understand firewood gathering practices at different periods in the Late Holocene, samples from 63 combustion events recorded in 9 rockshelters were analysed. From the anthracological analysis (14,976 fragments) 19 woody taxa, and 4 botanically indeterminate taxa, were identified belonging to Chaco Serrano forest vegetation. The identification of abundant small flat fireplaces suggests short-lived activities repeated over time. A detailed analysis of the samples (types of fire pits, alterations during combustion and taphonomic processes) permits inferring firewood gathering in the local vegetation around the sites, as well as some taxa belonging to different environmental settings. Archaeological evidence indicates that groups were mobile, with the establishment of a network of places in the landscape where different activities were carried out (tool production, food consumption and pottery manufacture) with fire making as a central activity. People in the past constantly used different places in the valley, focusing many of their activities in rockshelters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palaeoclimatic records from southern tip of South America during the Last Holocene, indicate important climate intervals, such as the Medieval Climate Anomaly and Little Ice Age, which offered new scenarios to hunter-gatherer groups who inhabited the region. The aim of this paper is to explore the social practices carried out by hunter-fisher-gatherer societies of the southern part of the Atlantic Coast of Tierra del Fuego island (53–55°S, 66–74°W) in order to deal with these environmental changes. From our perspective, foragers have played an active role in designing strategies to cope with environmental fluctuations. Consequently, we argue that in a context of ecological uncertainty, these societies would have developed flexible strategies in terms of subsistence, technology and settlement patterns. In order to test this proposal, zooarchaeological and technological analysis of different archaeological assemblages dated between the 1300 to 220 BP were undertaken. The results show that these hunter-fisher-gatherer societies exploited a broad range of faunal resources using a versatile technology which encompassed tools with low production values and high use values. Likewise, the analysis of landscape organization revealed a settlement strategy centered on the most productive habitats, which were preferentially reoccupied. We suggest that these strategies, supported by cumulative knowledge and material conditions, could have enhanced social resilience and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present and assess human isotopic data (δ13C and δ15N) available for Southern Chile. We analyze 24 cases from six different geographical zones, dated 200-1850 AD. This new information allows us to characterize individuals who had different subsistence patterns, social organization and historical trajectories, vis-a-vis phenomena like the adoption of ceramics (150 BC), cultigens (750-1000 AD) and the arrival of Europeans (1550 AD). This is complemented by a regional baseline of 45 archaeological faunal and plant resources. Based on our results, three dietary patterns can be identified over time (from 1000 to 1850 AD): one oriented towards marine resources, another towards C 3 plants and terrestrial protein, and the last focused on a mixed consumption of C 3 and C 4 plants, complemented by intake of terrestrial and marine protein. These cases show significant intra-zone consistency over time, and high inter-zone variability. This heterogeneous situation is evident even in synchronous individuals ascribed to the same cultural-historical unit or inhabiting the same geographical macro-zone (valley, coast, islands). It also contrasts with results from adjacent areas to Southern Chile. This highlights the complex diet variability that existed in societies which otherwise appear to be extremely alike in their archaeological record (burials, pottery) and ethnographic features (language, rituals). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the integrity and resolution of archaeological sites in sandy environments is a key issue for understanding site formation processes in hunter-gatherer's contexts. A case study from the lower course of the Colorado River, at the eastern Pampa-Patagonian transition (Argentina) is presented here. The studied area is characterized by a sand dune relief that is superimposed upon ancient fluvial and marine environments. The sites date to between c. 2000 and 250 14C yr BP (late Holocene) and they are mostly located in eolian contexts. The objective of this paper is to understand environmental dynamics and the site formation processes that operated in archaeological sites of the late Holocene through the integration of geoarchaeological and taphonomic information. The obtained results allowed the identification of site formation processes related to the different environmental settings (coast, ancient delta and inland). However, general patterns that relate some taphonomic effects as root action and weathering with landscape processes such as pedogenesis at an areal scale were also recognized. Despite the varied and highly dynamic environmental conditions of this arid-semiarid area, archaeological contexts with good degrees of resolution and integrity were recognized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we identify changes in the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) intensity during the late Holocene as revealed by palaeohydrological proxies in the fluvial archives of western India. Proxy indices, including the geomorphological, sedimentological, geochemical and biological evidence along with chronology have been employed to highlight the trend in ISM intensity over the late Holocene. It is inferred that on a longer timescale, the Indian Summer Monsoon weakened during the late Holocene however; short pulses of ameliorated monsoon occurred around 3, 1.6 and 0.3 cal ka BP. Clustering of flood events is seen to occur at 3–2.8, 2.2–1.6, 1.3–1.1 and 0.65–0.2 cal ka BP not necessarily coinciding with strengthening of the ISM. Palaeoflood data with regard to the ISM variability shows that the two most prevalent flood events at 0.5 and 1.7 cal ka BP coincide with the weak monsoon period/climatic transition in this region. The occurrence of high magnitude flood events during weak monsoon periods is also reflected in the modern flood and rainfall data. It is surmised that high magnitude flood events may represent peak monsoon periods however, cannot be singularly considered as indicators for enhanced monsoon conditions in a region. Only a more robust database of palaeohydrological proxies can further validate their implications on the monsoonal changes over western India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on past woodland changes and land uses in an ancient mining area of the Eastern Pyrenees (Ariège, France). The area discussed is located at the western entrance of the Vicdessos, a valley with significant steel production, and it is crossed by the road used from the 14th c. to the end of the 18th c. for the iron-charcoal exchange with the forest Province of Couserans. The introduction of this singular exchange and the silver ore mining history of this border area raise the question of their impact on forest cover changes and changes in human practices and their link with anthropisation processes. To deal with this issue, we put in place an interdisciplinary approach involving archaeology, charcoal analysis, ecological history and geochemistry. The archaeological investigations and fourteen radiocarbon ages allowed characterising and dating of mining and charcoal-making remains. They situate the emergence of metal ore mining during the Second Iron Age and charcoal making activity between the 15th and 17th c. The geochemical analysis of 9 galena samples showed some different isotopic signatures between ores extracted in ancient times and those mined during the modern period. The charcoal analysis of (i) 2442 charcoals from 31 charcoal kilns (ii) 500 from one pedoarchaeological pit excavated in a waste heap related to firesetting, and (iii) 250 from two pedoanthracological sampling points carried out in the charcoal burning forest, permits a detailed reconstruction of the woodland cover changes from the Second Iron Age to the 19th c. Furthermore, the combination of data from different disciplines allows for a long-term reconstruction of human practices history and woodland management for different uses. In particular, the results show the transformation of the fir-beech forest, still dominated by fir around the turn of the Roman era, into pure beech wood managed on northern slopes for human daily needs, occasionally mining, lumber and mainly charcoal production until the 19th c. The elimination of fir dates back to the 17th c. This assumes the end of lumber activities in that period. Pedoanthracological and palynological data suggest that southern slopes, progressively deforested since the Bronze Age, were entirely devoted to permanent agropastoral activities probably at least since the end of the medieval period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to discuss hunter–gatherers' logistical mobility strategies in Central-Western Santa Cruz province during the last 2500 years BP, in a context of human adaptations to semi-desert conditions. The approach to the archaeological record is focused on integrating three independent lines of evidence: technology, zooarchaeological and anthracological analysis. Logistical mobility will be addressed focusing on two main aspects: resources transportation and variability of archaeological contexts. The observed variability has allowed shedding light on the use of the category “logistical” used to describe plateaus. Additionally, these areas show a well-planned and scheduled use during a regional process of desiccation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil pollen and spore diversity in marine sediment cores from the coasts off SW Kalimantan and NE Java (Java Sea) as well as modern pollen assemblages collected off West Java in the SE Indian Ocean in a marine sediment trap are documented in this paper. In total, photographic images of 138 pollen and 41 spores including 14 pollen and 32 unidentified spore types are presented in morphological order. Illustrated pollen and spore taxa list may help pollen and spore identification of future palynological investigations focused on the reconstruction of past vegetation, climate and environment dynamics in SE Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows the preliminary results of the zooarchaeological analysis of Dupuy Rockshelter (La Toma, San Luis Province, Argentina). This rock shelter has evidence of Late Holocene (Last Millennium) human occupation dating from 340 ± 40 BP. Some species, including Lama guanicoe and Ozotoceros bezoarticus , were exploited and their bones were used as raw material to make instruments. The zooarchaeological analysis is complemented by geological and phytoarchaological evidence which indicates a humid environment during the Holocene and a mixed diet that included vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the analysis of the ichtyoarchaeological record from Los Bananos site (Goya, Corrientes, Argentine). The aim of this study is to render a first evaluation to the role played by fish in subsistence during subsequent occupations of the site. The site is located in the alluvial plain of Middle Paraná River, beside Paraná Miní creek, and it has provided new information about pottery and lithic technology, subsistence, chronology ( 14 C), site formation processes, etc. Bones from Los Bananos have been divided into three assemblages (LB1, LB2 and LB3), according to associated cultural materials. The pre-Hispanic populations that occupied this area by the end of the Late Holocene based their subsistence in hunting, gathering and fishing. Also, the makers of a distinctive ceramic ware associated with LB1 assemblage (related to Goya-Malabrigo entity - lato sensu -), relied on small-scale horticulture. Preceding materials of the other sets (LB2 and LB3) do not present necessary characteristics for cultural association as shown in LB1. The assemblages will be discussed in sequence of their deposition; and compared with results from other related sites. The results of zooarchaeological and taphonomic analysis of the faunal remains suggest that fish was an important resource in LB1. While from LB3 analysis, we will see that fish constituted a complementary resource in the diet. Thus, we can infer that, the role of animals in the diet of the site's prehistoric inhabitants changed during the time deposits were laid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of technological organization associated with hunter-gatherers groups has been one of the topics of greatest interest in the archaeological research of the Pampean region. In this sense, the aims of this paper were to interpret the role of the Cerro Largo Formation chert in the technological practices of human groups and to discuss how this rock was used and transported in the center of the Humid Pampa sub-region during the Late Holocene. We will present the techno-morphological analysis on chert artifacts recovered from Boca de la Sierra workshop in order to identify how this stone was used at the beginning of its exploitation. Then, we will compare and discuss diverse chaînes opérotoires on chert found in archaeological sites located at different distances from the sources. In Boca de la Sierra workshop, we recorded three initial forms of exploitation of the nodules. The Cerro Largo Formation chert had been transported from this workshop to other sites in the form of different kinds of partially and/or totally decorticated cores, nodules, large flakes, and possibly tools. In those sites located at a short distance from the quarry workshops (Empalme Querandíes 1 and Laguna La Barrancosa 2) we observed complete chaînes opérotoires organized through débitage , with low production of standardized blank and a high frequency of external flakes used as blank for the manufacture of different kinds of tools. In those sites located at a long distance from the quarry workshops (Laguna La Larga and Laguna Seca 2), we recorded chaînes opérotoires developed almost entirely. Even though some expedient tools are recorded, the greatest maximization in the use of Cerro Largo Formation chert is remarkable. The high proportion of standardized, small and shaped tools, the identification of exhausted cores, the use of a bipolar technique, and the presence of resharpening flake edges show a curated technological strategy. Finally, the presence of complete chaînes opérotoires close to the hills allow us to infer direct access to the outcrops and an easy acquisition of chert; whereas the features observed in the other sites indicate that the chert acquisition was done by specific trips or by social exchange and interaction networks with other groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on Late Holocene coastal occupations of hunter–gatherers that inhabited the northern steppes of Grande Island of Tierra del Fuego. Available archaeological data produced by our previous research in the Argentine portion of the island located north of San Sebastian Cape is discussed from a regional taphonomy perspective. Our approach is based on the characterization of the main taphonomic modes recognized in the region. Preservational and other patterns for bones and lithics are presented and discussed. Based on the comparative study of isotaphonomic assemblages, general trends in human coastal occupations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 19th century, it has been proposed that the wide geographic distribution of the Guaraní indigenous populations in large areas of South America was the result of prehistoric movements of large numbers of people through the main rivers of the La Plata Basin and the Brazilian coastline. However, no detailed spatial and temporal analysis has been carried out with the dated Guaraní archaeological sites of the different zones of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. This is one of the reasons why some of the main ideas about this past population expansion still lack empirical validation. This paper presents a study on the geographic and temporal distribution of the Guaraní archaeological sites in the La Plata Basin and the Atlantic coast of southern Brazil. The overall purpose is to contribute to understanding the Guaraní expansion using the analysis of two basic archaeological variables: space and time. Based on available numerical dates ( 14 C and thermoluminescence) and the application of GIS software, potential dispersion routes are discussed. To date, more than 1100 archaeological sites assigned to the Guaraní, along with almost 250 numerical dates were analyzed. With this data, it was possible to elaborate a Dispersion Routes Model and a Temporal Visualization Model, which enabled identification of the sequence of population dispersal, with two main expansion pulses, throughout nearly two millennia of Guaraní movements across the South American Lowlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes and discusses the main results achieved over three decades of research on paleodemographic aspects of Late Holocene hunter-gatherers in Northwestern Santa Cruz (Argentina). Research has been guided by a model of regional settlement that proposes that, as a result of the progressive aridization process recorded in Patagonia during the Late Holocene, human groups would have reduced their residential mobility and concentrated their settlements in low altitude basins with water availability, such as Lake Cardiel and Lake Salitroso. Paleodemographic questions derived from the model relate to population regional continuity and dynamics and were tested using several lines of research at regional and local scales. The assessment of the chronological information and temporal trends of the archaeological record at the regional level allowed for a coarse grain paleodemographic approach, and acted as a mean to support hypotheses related to changes in mobility and land use strategies. Building on this, several lines of bioarchaeological evidence were used to address paleodemographic aspects of the model, including temporal, distributional, and compositional studies of the mortuary record, isotopic, morphometric and DNA analyses and the sex and age structure of the skeletal samples recovered in Lake Salitroso basin. Results point to a biological and cultural population continuity in the region during the Late Holocene. Also, a reduction in residential mobility would have favored a slight population growth of Lake Salitroso populations during the last millennium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]