This paper presents a synthesis of geological, geochemical, and archaeological information for th... more This paper presents a synthesis of geological, geochemical, and archaeological information for the Huenul obsidian source located in northern Patagonia (Neuquén Province, Argentina). Important information recently published on other obsidian sources in the South-Central Andes of Argentina and Chile provide the context for this endeavor, allowing evaluation of the role of this lithic source within the network of human mobility and interaction on different spatial scales. It is suggested here that Huenul obsidian is genetically related with the Tilhué Formation, already been mapped in detail. This regional information provides a search model for geoarchaeological surveys. This raw material displays a remarkable supra-regional distribution in the archaeological record, although it is regionally under-represented. Three alternative hypotheses explaining the distribution of Huenul obsidians allow evaluation of technological decisions, marginal vs. nuclear role of certain spaces for past human societies, and territorial organization.
The importance of obsidian from the northern Patagonian source at Las Cargas is reflected in its ... more The importance of obsidian from the northern Patagonian source at Las Cargas is reflected in its early use (ß8000 years B.P.) and extensive geographic diffusion but is nonetheless surprising in light of the source's high altitude (located in the Andes Cordillera), which makes it both difficult to access under ideal conditions and inaccessible for much of the year. Prehistoric use of the Las Cargas source can inform us about mobility, subsistence choices, economics of stone consumption, trade, and territoriality. Here we present the results of various lines of evidence (surface survey, X-ray fluorescence and instrumental neutron activation analyses, artifact morphometry, and obsidian hydration dating) used to characterize obsidian from Las Cargas and its prehistoric use during the Holocene. Results indicate that Las Cargas obsidian occurs at the source as blocks and nodules, which are chemically homogeneous and of variable quality. Use of the source was nearly continuous through time, and the primary knapping activities performed there were the production of blanks and preparation of cores.
Abstract A geochemical analysis of 382 obsidian samples from different archeological sites in Cen... more Abstract A geochemical analysis of 382 obsidian samples from different archeological sites in Central Chile (32°–35° Lat. South) has identified the preferential use of three known sources in the Andean mountain range, Arroyo Paramillos and Laguna del Diamante located in the Maipo Volcano area, and Las Cargas located ca 120 km further south. The analysis of the circulation and use of this raw material from the beginning of the Archaic period until the arrival of the Inka to this territory reveals differences in how obsidian from these three main sources was used, both spatially and temporally. The hunter-gatherers occupying the Andean mountain range preferred the obsidian source from the Maipo Volcano area, while the hunter gatherer and horticulturalist groups from the central valley used more frequently the obsidian from Las Cargas source. These differences are linked to the quality of the obsidian, its suitability for the intended use and the distance of the users from the source.
Northwestern Patagonia is located in a tectonically active part of the southern Andes (Argentina)... more Northwestern Patagonia is located in a tectonically active part of the southern Andes (Argentina), which has facilitated the formation of obsidian, including pyroclastic deposits that have been affected by geomorphic processes, resulting in a complex obsidian landscape. To date, the geomorphic relocation of obsidian in the landscape has not been a focus of systematic research, and this hampers our understanding of prehistoric human mobility. We present an updated assessment of the regional availability of different obsidian types based on results from our research program, which combines geoarchaeological survey and geochemical characterization to understand the properties and distribution of obsidian. This robust "source-scape" provides the foundation for reconstructing patterns of lithic provisioning and discard. Our results suggest that interpretations of obsidian availability across the landscape should be more nuanced than is typically acknowledged. Based on our improved "source-scape," we discuss the patterns observed in an archaeological X-ray fluorescence database. When compared with the geoarchaeological reconstruction of obsidian availability, the archaeological record conforms to a distance-decay pattern. Contrary to previous interpretations, we suggest that the distribution of obsidian types is not isomorphic with human
This research explores the characteristics of stone tool production in the heart of the Andean st... more This research explores the characteristics of stone tool production in the heart of the Andean state of Tiwanaku, comparing tool production on urban and rural settlements and at elite and non-elite sites. Models of the Tiwanaku state are tested, and comparisons with the contemporaneous Wari state are explored. The author demonstrates that there was an overall continuity in lithic production from the Formative (1500 B.C. - 400 A.D.) to Middle Horizon (400-1100 A.D.), but significant changes occured after 600 A.D., as exotic raw materials began to be exploited. The state controlled the procurement and distribution of obsidian and black basalt, giving preference to urban dwellers, following the experiences of earlier altiplano polities (the Pukara, Chiripa and Wankarani). At the same time, local groups procured smaller quantities of exotics from other (non-state controlled) sources. Spanish text.
New geochemical results for two obsidian types, Laguna del Diamante and Arroyo Paramillos, natura... more New geochemical results for two obsidian types, Laguna del Diamante and Arroyo Paramillos, naturally available in the Laguna del Diamante locality, a seasonally accessible highland wetland emplaced in the current border between Argentina and Chile at 3300 masl (34°S), are presented. A total of 1219 archeological artifacts from 41 sites located on both sides of the Andes have been assigned to these sources. The artifacts were analyzed by non-destructive, energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF). Archeological distributions of these obsidian types are assessed through GIS spatial analysis. Results show a great asymmetry in the distribution of these sources toward the two Andean slopes: the Laguna de Diamante chemical type shows a fairly local use pattern, being concentrated almost entirely in Cordillera sites, but the Paramillos shows a less homogeneous distribution and tends to be more concentrated in the sites that are in the western natural corridor. Although these lands were accessed and occupied from diverse demographic nodes in lower-altitude settings, the spatial analysis of obsidian artifacts reinforces the argument of dominant geographic vectors of access connecting with the western valleys and lowlands of Chile.
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. A total of 25 samples were analyzed 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 work adds nine archaeological samples from new sites and one from the Lihué Calel obsidian source. The results allow us to take into account the sourcing of the obsidian which was found in archeological sites of four areas of study located in the south and east of the province. Both, the results generated in this new stage, and those previously obtained are integrated and discussed in relation to the information produced by other researchers from the region, which are consistent with the existing ones for La Pampa. They indicate that the obsidian recovered was procured from sources located in the Argentin...
Analysis of 519 obsidian artifacts (pebbles, debitage, cores and small bifaces) by nondestructive... more Analysis of 519 obsidian artifacts (pebbles, debitage, cores and small bifaces) by nondestructive X-ray fluorescence from forests and steppes of southern Lanín National Park in the northern Patagonian Andean region, from Lácar (chemical group QU/AP), Lolog (CP-LL 1), Filo Hua-Hum (FHH), Paillakura (Pk, former unknown 1 group), Meliquina (MQ, former unknown group 2) and Yuco (YC) sources. Neutron activation analysis was applied to 29 of the artifacts. We identified for the first time the presence of obsidian from distant Covunco (PC1) in the center of Neuquén. This paper is the first English language publication of our ongoing, ten-year-long research. In accordance with previous work, but using other analytical techniques, the most frequently used sources during the late Holocene remain CP/LL 1 and Pk, here we add YC, mainly by the incorporation of new sites recently surveyed in the islands and the coast of Lake Lácar, next to its source. Another result consistent with previous work ...
We studied the organization of mobility of hunter-gatherers groups of northwestern Patagonia (Arg... more We studied the organization of mobility of hunter-gatherers groups of northwestern Patagonia (Argentina) from an interdisciplinary perspective. We combined geochemical and technological characterization of obsidian assemblages from surface and stratigraphic contexts spanning the Holocene, and a preliminary geoarchaeological study of the sources. The goals were to assess the provenance, mode of supply, use, and discard of obsidian artifacts on the basis of information on the structure of the two main regional sources: Cerro Huenul, located in the lowlands, and Laguna del Maule, located in the Andean highlands. We conducted geoarchaeological field sampling at different altitudes of the Barrancas River fluvial deposits to study the geomorphic impact on the secondary structure of the highland source. Preliminary geoarcheological results allow extending the area of availability up to 90 km towards the lowlands from the outcrops. In addition, we performed non-destructive XRF analyses on 266 lithic artifacts, which were placed along a continuum of reduction. 89% of the artifacts corresponded to the local Cerro Huenul source, while 11% to Laguna del Maule. While the artifacts made on Cerro Huenul obsidian were represented by the full reduction sequence, those from
ABSTRACT Tiwanaku was an important center of Andean civilization from AD 500 to AD 1000. Its urba... more ABSTRACT Tiwanaku was an important center of Andean civilization from AD 500 to AD 1000. Its urban inhabitants had access to exotic lithic raw materials, including obsidian. Samples from three obsidian quarries, 147 obsidian artifacts from eight different sectors in ...
Este trabajo aborda la interpretación del registro arqueológico en ambientes aluviales en ecosist... more Este trabajo aborda la interpretación del registro arqueológico en ambientes aluviales en ecosistemas áridos-semiáridos. Para ello se presenta como caso de estudio el sitio Rincón del Atuel-1 (San Rafael, Mendoza). Específicamente se describe la estratigrafía y sedimentología del sitio junto a las cronologías numéricas obtenidas mediante 14 C y TL. Con esta información se discuten los procesos de formación del sitio y la relación entre el registro arqueológico con la matriz sedimentaria del depósito. El sitio fue ocupado en los últimos 1500-1700 años, postulándose que desde esas fechas Rincón del Atuel-1 registró una serie de procesos aluviales y un cambio del nivel respecto al actual curso del río hacia unos 1000 años AP Las diferencias cronológicas y estratigráficas detectadas en el depósito son explicadas en términos de los factores postdepositacionales que probablemente actuaron en el sector. En esta región los trabajos arqueológicos se han centrado en abrigos o aleros rocosos por lo que el conocimiento de los procesos depositacionales y postdepositacionales en estos sectores abre perspectivas para diseñar futuros trabajos en contextos similares.
This paper presents a synthesis of geological, geochemical, and archaeological information for th... more This paper presents a synthesis of geological, geochemical, and archaeological information for the Huenul obsidian source located in northern Patagonia (Neuquén Province, Argentina). Important information recently published on other obsidian sources in the South-Central Andes of Argentina and Chile provide the context for this endeavor, allowing evaluation of the role of this lithic source within the network of human mobility and interaction on different spatial scales. It is suggested here that Huenul obsidian is genetically related with the Tilhué Formation, already been mapped in detail. This regional information provides a search model for geoarchaeological surveys. This raw material displays a remarkable supra-regional distribution in the archaeological record, although it is regionally under-represented. Three alternative hypotheses explaining the distribution of Huenul obsidians allow evaluation of technological decisions, marginal vs. nuclear role of certain spaces for past human societies, and territorial organization.
The importance of obsidian from the northern Patagonian source at Las Cargas is reflected in its ... more The importance of obsidian from the northern Patagonian source at Las Cargas is reflected in its early use (ß8000 years B.P.) and extensive geographic diffusion but is nonetheless surprising in light of the source's high altitude (located in the Andes Cordillera), which makes it both difficult to access under ideal conditions and inaccessible for much of the year. Prehistoric use of the Las Cargas source can inform us about mobility, subsistence choices, economics of stone consumption, trade, and territoriality. Here we present the results of various lines of evidence (surface survey, X-ray fluorescence and instrumental neutron activation analyses, artifact morphometry, and obsidian hydration dating) used to characterize obsidian from Las Cargas and its prehistoric use during the Holocene. Results indicate that Las Cargas obsidian occurs at the source as blocks and nodules, which are chemically homogeneous and of variable quality. Use of the source was nearly continuous through time, and the primary knapping activities performed there were the production of blanks and preparation of cores.
Abstract A geochemical analysis of 382 obsidian samples from different archeological sites in Cen... more Abstract A geochemical analysis of 382 obsidian samples from different archeological sites in Central Chile (32°–35° Lat. South) has identified the preferential use of three known sources in the Andean mountain range, Arroyo Paramillos and Laguna del Diamante located in the Maipo Volcano area, and Las Cargas located ca 120 km further south. The analysis of the circulation and use of this raw material from the beginning of the Archaic period until the arrival of the Inka to this territory reveals differences in how obsidian from these three main sources was used, both spatially and temporally. The hunter-gatherers occupying the Andean mountain range preferred the obsidian source from the Maipo Volcano area, while the hunter gatherer and horticulturalist groups from the central valley used more frequently the obsidian from Las Cargas source. These differences are linked to the quality of the obsidian, its suitability for the intended use and the distance of the users from the source.
Northwestern Patagonia is located in a tectonically active part of the southern Andes (Argentina)... more Northwestern Patagonia is located in a tectonically active part of the southern Andes (Argentina), which has facilitated the formation of obsidian, including pyroclastic deposits that have been affected by geomorphic processes, resulting in a complex obsidian landscape. To date, the geomorphic relocation of obsidian in the landscape has not been a focus of systematic research, and this hampers our understanding of prehistoric human mobility. We present an updated assessment of the regional availability of different obsidian types based on results from our research program, which combines geoarchaeological survey and geochemical characterization to understand the properties and distribution of obsidian. This robust "source-scape" provides the foundation for reconstructing patterns of lithic provisioning and discard. Our results suggest that interpretations of obsidian availability across the landscape should be more nuanced than is typically acknowledged. Based on our improved "source-scape," we discuss the patterns observed in an archaeological X-ray fluorescence database. When compared with the geoarchaeological reconstruction of obsidian availability, the archaeological record conforms to a distance-decay pattern. Contrary to previous interpretations, we suggest that the distribution of obsidian types is not isomorphic with human
This research explores the characteristics of stone tool production in the heart of the Andean st... more This research explores the characteristics of stone tool production in the heart of the Andean state of Tiwanaku, comparing tool production on urban and rural settlements and at elite and non-elite sites. Models of the Tiwanaku state are tested, and comparisons with the contemporaneous Wari state are explored. The author demonstrates that there was an overall continuity in lithic production from the Formative (1500 B.C. - 400 A.D.) to Middle Horizon (400-1100 A.D.), but significant changes occured after 600 A.D., as exotic raw materials began to be exploited. The state controlled the procurement and distribution of obsidian and black basalt, giving preference to urban dwellers, following the experiences of earlier altiplano polities (the Pukara, Chiripa and Wankarani). At the same time, local groups procured smaller quantities of exotics from other (non-state controlled) sources. Spanish text.
New geochemical results for two obsidian types, Laguna del Diamante and Arroyo Paramillos, natura... more New geochemical results for two obsidian types, Laguna del Diamante and Arroyo Paramillos, naturally available in the Laguna del Diamante locality, a seasonally accessible highland wetland emplaced in the current border between Argentina and Chile at 3300 masl (34°S), are presented. A total of 1219 archeological artifacts from 41 sites located on both sides of the Andes have been assigned to these sources. The artifacts were analyzed by non-destructive, energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF). Archeological distributions of these obsidian types are assessed through GIS spatial analysis. Results show a great asymmetry in the distribution of these sources toward the two Andean slopes: the Laguna de Diamante chemical type shows a fairly local use pattern, being concentrated almost entirely in Cordillera sites, but the Paramillos shows a less homogeneous distribution and tends to be more concentrated in the sites that are in the western natural corridor. Although these lands were accessed and occupied from diverse demographic nodes in lower-altitude settings, the spatial analysis of obsidian artifacts reinforces the argument of dominant geographic vectors of access connecting with the western valleys and lowlands of Chile.
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. A total of 25 samples were analyzed 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 work adds nine archaeological samples from new sites and one from the Lihué Calel obsidian source. The results allow us to take into account the sourcing of the obsidian which was found in archeological sites of four areas of study located in the south and east of the province. Both, the results generated in this new stage, and those previously obtained are integrated and discussed in relation to the information produced by other researchers from the region, which are consistent with the existing ones for La Pampa. They indicate that the obsidian recovered was procured from sources located in the Argentin...
Analysis of 519 obsidian artifacts (pebbles, debitage, cores and small bifaces) by nondestructive... more Analysis of 519 obsidian artifacts (pebbles, debitage, cores and small bifaces) by nondestructive X-ray fluorescence from forests and steppes of southern Lanín National Park in the northern Patagonian Andean region, from Lácar (chemical group QU/AP), Lolog (CP-LL 1), Filo Hua-Hum (FHH), Paillakura (Pk, former unknown 1 group), Meliquina (MQ, former unknown group 2) and Yuco (YC) sources. Neutron activation analysis was applied to 29 of the artifacts. We identified for the first time the presence of obsidian from distant Covunco (PC1) in the center of Neuquén. This paper is the first English language publication of our ongoing, ten-year-long research. In accordance with previous work, but using other analytical techniques, the most frequently used sources during the late Holocene remain CP/LL 1 and Pk, here we add YC, mainly by the incorporation of new sites recently surveyed in the islands and the coast of Lake Lácar, next to its source. Another result consistent with previous work ...
We studied the organization of mobility of hunter-gatherers groups of northwestern Patagonia (Arg... more We studied the organization of mobility of hunter-gatherers groups of northwestern Patagonia (Argentina) from an interdisciplinary perspective. We combined geochemical and technological characterization of obsidian assemblages from surface and stratigraphic contexts spanning the Holocene, and a preliminary geoarchaeological study of the sources. The goals were to assess the provenance, mode of supply, use, and discard of obsidian artifacts on the basis of information on the structure of the two main regional sources: Cerro Huenul, located in the lowlands, and Laguna del Maule, located in the Andean highlands. We conducted geoarchaeological field sampling at different altitudes of the Barrancas River fluvial deposits to study the geomorphic impact on the secondary structure of the highland source. Preliminary geoarcheological results allow extending the area of availability up to 90 km towards the lowlands from the outcrops. In addition, we performed non-destructive XRF analyses on 266 lithic artifacts, which were placed along a continuum of reduction. 89% of the artifacts corresponded to the local Cerro Huenul source, while 11% to Laguna del Maule. While the artifacts made on Cerro Huenul obsidian were represented by the full reduction sequence, those from
ABSTRACT Tiwanaku was an important center of Andean civilization from AD 500 to AD 1000. Its urba... more ABSTRACT Tiwanaku was an important center of Andean civilization from AD 500 to AD 1000. Its urban inhabitants had access to exotic lithic raw materials, including obsidian. Samples from three obsidian quarries, 147 obsidian artifacts from eight different sectors in ...
Este trabajo aborda la interpretación del registro arqueológico en ambientes aluviales en ecosist... more Este trabajo aborda la interpretación del registro arqueológico en ambientes aluviales en ecosistemas áridos-semiáridos. Para ello se presenta como caso de estudio el sitio Rincón del Atuel-1 (San Rafael, Mendoza). Específicamente se describe la estratigrafía y sedimentología del sitio junto a las cronologías numéricas obtenidas mediante 14 C y TL. Con esta información se discuten los procesos de formación del sitio y la relación entre el registro arqueológico con la matriz sedimentaria del depósito. El sitio fue ocupado en los últimos 1500-1700 años, postulándose que desde esas fechas Rincón del Atuel-1 registró una serie de procesos aluviales y un cambio del nivel respecto al actual curso del río hacia unos 1000 años AP Las diferencias cronológicas y estratigráficas detectadas en el depósito son explicadas en términos de los factores postdepositacionales que probablemente actuaron en el sector. En esta región los trabajos arqueológicos se han centrado en abrigos o aleros rocosos por lo que el conocimiento de los procesos depositacionales y postdepositacionales en estos sectores abre perspectivas para diseñar futuros trabajos en contextos similares.
New geochemical results for two obsidian types, Laguna del Diamante and Arroyo Paramillos, natura... more New geochemical results for two obsidian types, Laguna del Diamante and Arroyo Paramillos, naturally available in the Laguna del Diamante locality, a seasonally accessible highland wetland emplaced in the current border between Argentina and Chile at 3300 masl (34°S), are presented. A total of 1219 archeological artifacts from 41 sites located on both sides of the Andes have been assigned to these sources. The artifacts were analyzed by non-destructive, energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF). Archeological distributions of these obsidian types are assessed through GIS spatial analysis. Results show a great asymmetry in the distribution of these sources toward the two Andean slopes: the Laguna de Diamante chemical type shows a fairly local use pattern, being concentrated almost entirely in Cordillera sites, but the Paramillos shows a less homogeneous distribution and tends to be more concentrated in the sites that are in the western natural corridor. Although these lands were accessed and occupied from diverse demographic nodes in lower-altitude settings, the spatial analysis of obsidian artifacts reinforces the argument of dominant geographic vectors of access connecting with the western valleys and lowlands of Chile.
A B S T R A C T We studied the organization of mobility of hunter-gatherers groups of northwester... more A B S T R A C T We studied the organization of mobility of hunter-gatherers groups of northwestern Patagonia (Argentina) from an interdisciplinary perspective. We combined geochemical and technological characterization of obsidian assemblages from surface and stratigraphic contexts spanning the Holocene, and a preliminary geoarchaeolo-gical study of the sources. The goals were to assess the provenance, mode of supply, use, and discard of obsidian artifacts on the basis of information on the structure of the two main regional sources: Cerro Huenul, located in the lowlands, and Laguna del Maule, located in the Andean highlands. We conducted geoarchaeological field sampling at different altitudes of the Barrancas River fluvial deposits to study the geomorphic impact on the secondary structure of the highland source. Preliminary geoarchaeological results allow extending the area of availability up to 90 km towards the lowlands from the outcrops. In addition, we performed non-destructive XRF analyses on 266 lithic artifacts, which were placed along a continuum of reduction. 89% of the artifacts corresponded to the local Cerro Huenul source, while 11% to Laguna del Maule. While the artifacts made on Cerro Huenul obsidian were represented by the full reduction sequence, those from Laguna del Maule are only represented by advanced stages. We integrate these results with information on the frequencies of projectile points, ceramics, and rock-art motifs for the two main archaeological sites in the region: Cueva Huenul 1 and Cueva Yagui. These proxies indicate that the sites have different place use histories, providing a scheme for the analysis of human use of the regional landscape.
South America is a vast, relatively isolated, landmass that includes 12 independent countries and... more South America is a vast, relatively isolated, landmass that includes 12 independent countries and one region (Guyane Française) with diverse ethnic groups speaking hundreds of different languages and dialects, and extraordinary creativity. Indigenous people have occupied its different habitats while transforming the landscape and themselves, with extraordinary dedication and success. This dictionary opens a window to these peoples through many entries, in an integrated approach that allows to connect the multiple facets of indigenous life before 1492.
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Papers by Martin Giesso