This paper presents the first results obtained on bioarchaeological and cultural evidence
recove... more This paper presents the first results obtained on bioarchaeological and cultural evidence
recovered at Médano La Enriqueta I site (MLE-I). This site is a case of human prehispanic settlement in
the southern area of Caleu-Caleu Department. MLE-I is located on an active dune, in which three
hollows, were found, probably related with the differential use of space by prehispanic hunter-gatherers
societies, were found. human remains were recovered from one of these hollows, while in another the
cultural record is a consequence of other human activities. From the archaeological analysis it was
possible to estimate a MNI of nine. Two skulls with intentional deformation (tabular erect type,
planolambdic variant) were recovered, whose radiocarbon chronology, assigned to the final late holocene
(1005±25 years bp), agrees with other cases known in the area. Finally, a remarkable variability of
cultural remains, mainly represented by lithic artifacts, pottery fragments and malacological beads
(chaquiras), were recovered. The data obtained by applying different lines of analysis are discussed and
integrated with previous research developed in northern Patagonia and southern La Pampa Province.
The goal of this study is to report the progress regarding the procurement and circulation of obs... more The goal of this study is to report the progress regarding the procurement and circulation of obsidian by hunter-gatherer populations during the Late Holocene in the province of La Pampa, Argentina. Twenty five samples were analysed in two stages; in the first stage neutron activation analysis (INAA) was used, while X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was employed in the second stage. This paper adds nine archaeological samples from new sites and one from the Lihué Calel obsidian source, unknown so far. The results allow us to consider the sourcing of the obsidian, which was found in archaeological sites from four research areas located in the south and east of the province. The results generated in this new stage are integrated with those previously obtained and discussed in relation to information provided by other researchers in the region. They indicate that the obsidian recovered was procured from Andean and extra Andean sources located in the Argentine provinces of Neuquén and Mendoza. New data expands the spatial perspective of our interpretations to four new research areas: Curacó basin, Lihué Calel hills, Valles Transversales (Transversal Valleys) and Bajos sin Salida (Endorheic low areas). The origin of the obsidian at La Pampa sites adds to another cluster of archaeological evidence showing strong long distance interactions that existed between hunter-gatherer societies that inhabited the central region of Argentina in the late Holocene. Access to secondary deposits could have also contributed to source variability.
This paper presents the first results obtained on bioarchaeological and cultural evidence
recove... more This paper presents the first results obtained on bioarchaeological and cultural evidence
recovered at Médano La Enriqueta I site (MLE-I). This site is a case of human prehispanic settlement in
the southern area of Caleu-Caleu Department. MLE-I is located on an active dune, in which three
hollows, were found, probably related with the differential use of space by prehispanic hunter-gatherers
societies, were found. human remains were recovered from one of these hollows, while in another the
cultural record is a consequence of other human activities. From the archaeological analysis it was
possible to estimate a MNI of nine. Two skulls with intentional deformation (tabular erect type,
planolambdic variant) were recovered, whose radiocarbon chronology, assigned to the final late holocene
(1005±25 years bp), agrees with other cases known in the area. Finally, a remarkable variability of
cultural remains, mainly represented by lithic artifacts, pottery fragments and malacological beads
(chaquiras), were recovered. The data obtained by applying different lines of analysis are discussed and
integrated with previous research developed in northern Patagonia and southern La Pampa Province.
The goal of this study is to report the progress regarding the procurement and circulation of obs... more The goal of this study is to report the progress regarding the procurement and circulation of obsidian by hunter-gatherer populations during the Late Holocene in the province of La Pampa, Argentina. Twenty five samples were analysed in two stages; in the first stage neutron activation analysis (INAA) was used, while X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was employed in the second stage. This paper adds nine archaeological samples from new sites and one from the Lihué Calel obsidian source, unknown so far. The results allow us to consider the sourcing of the obsidian, which was found in archaeological sites from four research areas located in the south and east of the province. The results generated in this new stage are integrated with those previously obtained and discussed in relation to information provided by other researchers in the region. They indicate that the obsidian recovered was procured from Andean and extra Andean sources located in the Argentine provinces of Neuquén and Mendoza. New data expands the spatial perspective of our interpretations to four new research areas: Curacó basin, Lihué Calel hills, Valles Transversales (Transversal Valleys) and Bajos sin Salida (Endorheic low areas). The origin of the obsidian at La Pampa sites adds to another cluster of archaeological evidence showing strong long distance interactions that existed between hunter-gatherer societies that inhabited the central region of Argentina in the late Holocene. Access to secondary deposits could have also contributed to source variability.
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Papers by M. Aizpitarte
recovered at Médano La Enriqueta I site (MLE-I). This site is a case of human prehispanic settlement in
the southern area of Caleu-Caleu Department. MLE-I is located on an active dune, in which three
hollows, were found, probably related with the differential use of space by prehispanic hunter-gatherers
societies, were found. human remains were recovered from one of these hollows, while in another the
cultural record is a consequence of other human activities. From the archaeological analysis it was
possible to estimate a MNI of nine. Two skulls with intentional deformation (tabular erect type,
planolambdic variant) were recovered, whose radiocarbon chronology, assigned to the final late holocene
(1005±25 years bp), agrees with other cases known in the area. Finally, a remarkable variability of
cultural remains, mainly represented by lithic artifacts, pottery fragments and malacological beads
(chaquiras), were recovered. The data obtained by applying different lines of analysis are discussed and
integrated with previous research developed in northern Patagonia and southern La Pampa Province.
recovered at Médano La Enriqueta I site (MLE-I). This site is a case of human prehispanic settlement in
the southern area of Caleu-Caleu Department. MLE-I is located on an active dune, in which three
hollows, were found, probably related with the differential use of space by prehispanic hunter-gatherers
societies, were found. human remains were recovered from one of these hollows, while in another the
cultural record is a consequence of other human activities. From the archaeological analysis it was
possible to estimate a MNI of nine. Two skulls with intentional deformation (tabular erect type,
planolambdic variant) were recovered, whose radiocarbon chronology, assigned to the final late holocene
(1005±25 years bp), agrees with other cases known in the area. Finally, a remarkable variability of
cultural remains, mainly represented by lithic artifacts, pottery fragments and malacological beads
(chaquiras), were recovered. The data obtained by applying different lines of analysis are discussed and
integrated with previous research developed in northern Patagonia and southern La Pampa Province.