CARACTERIZACIÓN DE MICRORRESIDUOS VEGETALES EN ARTEFACTOS LÍTICOS EMPLEADOS PARA PROCESAR MADERAS. RESULTADOS EXPERIMENTALES Y CASOS ARQUEOLÓGICOS DE PATAGONIA.

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]