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The landscape of Deseado Massif in Santa Cruz province, is dominated by Jurassic volcanic geologic formations. In this geologic framework, good quality lithic raw material has a great availability and variability. Regional archaeological record presents a long human occupation sequence starting in late Pleistocene. In this paper, neutron activation analysis is implemented to characterize geochemical variability in Cantera del Rojo (CDR) and other lithic quarries within the study area. In turn, the technique is applied on archaeological artifacts from Cueva Maripe site to evaluate raw material sources. Neutron activation analysis has been frequently used on obsidian, but very rarely on other kind of rocks. Thus, this paper constitutes the first application of this methodology to identify provisioning sources of different silica rocks. Results indicate statistically significant associations between one of the quarries (CDR), which allow us to establish a geochemical identity. The Cueva Maripe site artifacts analyzed were manufactured on raw materials sourced from D9 quarry and from another unknown source. This is the first application of neutron activation analysis to the study of silica rocks to resolve archaeological problems, so it represents a landmark on the raw material provenance studies in Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses a collection of engraved plaques from Golfo San Matías (Río Negro province) in order to assess design recurrences which might point to the presence of ornamentation rules and/or visual information coding among the hunter-gatherer peoples who produced and used them. Then, 170 plaques from Patagonia and other regions of Argentina are systematically compared using the presence of shared motif types as the main criterion. Data are assessed using a theoretical model with expectations which link design variability/standardization, ornamental laxity/structuration and informational heterogeneity/redundancy. Results show that plaques display low design standardization, which is compatible with a low redundancy communicative function (heterogeneous content) and/or with an ornamental function with lax rules. Moreover, the shared repertoires document several inter-regional links, which are verified using different lines of archaeological evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes plant processing through lithic instruments from a multi-proxy approach for hunter-gatherers contexts of Patagonia. This region presents an archaeobotanical record reflecting the use of diverse species and plant organs, as well as abundant lithic record with evidences of plant processing in different occupational periods. An experimental program combining plant micro-residues studies of two taxa common in the archaeological record with the use-wear analysis of lithic material is proposed here in order to generate functional, technological and methodological interpretations. Cell elements, stains and traces of use are characterized. The program was applied to a sample of different archaeological instruments of the Central plain and the North coast of Santa Cruz province. Micro-residues and use-wear traces identified from these artifacts, together with other contextual information allow us to infer diverse plant processing and manufacture practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the distribution of an assemblage of projectile points recoveredfrom the archaeological site Cerro Casa de Piedra 7. The analysis aims to identify patterns in the spatial distribution of the points, in order to define possible activity areas. It also seeks to recognize if there are diachronic variations in these distributions. One of the criteria for comparison was the difference in distribution of whole and fractured points. Within the latter, a distinction was made between bases and apex with the goal of assessing their relationship with the different excavated sectors within the site. The comparison of distributions in different temporal blocks enabled the identification of trends in projectile point discard throughout time. However, no patterns could be differentiated in the horizontal distribution. The tendencies identified marks a certain abundance during the early Holocene and a sharp decline starting in the middle Holocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the technological information produced by a regional distributional study conducted within the central sector of the Gallegos and Chico Rivers Interfluve (Pali Aike Volcanic Field, Santa Cruz, Argentina). The goal of this regional survey was to characterize the archaeological signal and its possible latitudinal variations at W70°. By studying the organization of technology and the regional technological structure, we discuss land use strategies and the factors that may have influenced them within this portion of the interfluve. Human use of lagoons is especially targeted. We conclude that hunter-gatherers occupied more intensively those spaces that combine the abundant availability of dark fine-grained rocks of Potrok Aike type with the least distance to river courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we make a characterization of the harpoon points from continental Patagonia (Argentina) through a comprehensive survey of the cases mentioned in bibliographic records and deposited in public and private collections. In this sense, we make a description of the entire harpoon points registered, considering several qualitative-quantitative variables, such as type of harpoon, provenance, raw materials, dimensions, presence of marks (insicions, engravings), among other variables. As result, we were able to determine the existence of at least 58 pieces of this type, many more than those considered so far as well as four different morphologies, which are associated with differences in raw materials, spatial distribution and probably functionality. Finally, the possible use of this particular type of instruments is discussed by analogy with other archaeological and ethnographic contexts, in which harpoon points have been used, like in the extreme south of Patagonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we continue to evaluate hunting techniques developed in the mixed Nothofagus and Austrocedrus forest of northern Patagonia. Hunting techniques were previously tackled up from two models of ungulates' hunting, contrasted with the archaeological record of Cholila (Chubut). Here we extend the model we call "inside the forest" incorporating pudú (Pudu puda) and testing it in two areas deep inside the forest, the lower Manso (Río Negro) and Epuyén (Chubut) river valleys. We propose that the main prey --huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus)-- as other species of very low taxonomic representation --the pudú and puma (Puma concolor)-- were obtained by encounter and/or stalking hunting strategies, with throwing weapons, mainly bow and arrow. Exceptional horse (Equus caballus) consumption is interpreted as the use of a domestic animal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]