Engraved stone plaquettes from the North Patagonian area (Somuncurá plateau, Río Negro, Argentina) and the use of different microscopic techniques for their analysis

ABSTRACT

The aim of this paper is to present the first record of engraved stone plaquettes recovered at the Laguna Azul site (LA-P3) located in the Somuncurá plateau (Río Negro, Argentina). The stone plaquettes record is wide and varied in Argentina and especially in the North Patagonia region; however, it mostly consists of surface finds. The four plaquettes from LA-P3 are associated with Late Holocene dates (c.1906–1756 years BP) and in this paper the authors describe their designs and motifs, as complementary studies using different microscopy techniques. LA-P3’s plaquettes displayed red residues which were analysed by SEM-EDX and allowed identification of iron and titanium on their surfaces. This study contributes to the stone plaquette register of North Patagonia, and provides novel information related to their production techniques (mostly incision) and their motifs identified (non-figurative). The low frequency of similar motifs between the sets analysed allows us to propose a certain regionalization of their production.

Resumen

En este trabajo presentamos el primer registro de placas grabadas en estratigrafía de la localidad Laguna Azul -Parapeto 3- (LA-P3) ubicado en el sector noreste de la meseta de Somuncurá (provincia de Río Negro, Argentina). El registro de placas grabadas es amplio y variado en Argentina y específicamente en el sector norte de Patagonia; sin embargo, se trata en su mayoría de ejemplares de colecciones o de materiales de superficie lo que dificultad una mayor información contextual y asignación temporal. Las cuatro placas obtenidas del sitio Laguna Azul se encuentran asociadas a fechados del Holoceno tardío (c.1906–1756 años AP) y en este trabajo se describen los diseños y motivos identificados sobre las mismas, al igual que se presentan estudios complementarios a partir de diferentes técnicas de microscopia para su análisis. El estudio de estos elementos bajo lupa binocular registró residuos de coloración roja que fueron analizados a partir de SEM-EDX y los resultados obtenidos permitieron identificar altas proporciones de hierro y titanio. La investigación desarrollada en este trabajo constituye un importante avance respecto al registro de placas grabadas en posición estratigráfica y aporta información novedosa en cuanto a técnicas de producción empleadas (principalmente incisos) y motivos registrados (no figurativos). La baja frecuencia de motivos similares entre los conjuntos analizados, a su vez, permitirían reconocer cierta regionalización en la producción de estos objetos.

KEYWORDS:

• Engraved stone plaquettes
• hunter-gatherers
• Somuncurá plateau
• SEM-EDX

PALABRAS CLAVES:

• Placas grabadas
• cazadores-recolectores
• meseta de Somuncurá
• SEM-EDX

Highlights

• We present the first record of engraved stone plaquettes in Somuncurá plateau (Argentina).

• The stone plaquettes obtained from LA-P3 site are associated with Late Holocene dates.

• We describe their designs, motifs and microscopy techniques for their analysis (SEM-EDX).

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Laura Blanco who drew the stone plaquette figures, to Gladys Hann from Tello’s Museum in Viedma and to Laura Miotti and Ophelie Lebrasseur who read the manuscript and made value contributions to improve it. The fieldwork was carried out with the support of UNLP-PI N665, ANPCyT N 2015-0102 and PIP CONICET 00153. Although the research and ideas of many people are integrated into this paper, we assume full responsibility for its content.

Notes

1. The toldo was made of guanaco leathers piled in staked rows (Casamiquela 2000).

2. Sensu Álvarez et al. (2001) as a cut or split made in the rock through the unidirectional or bi-directional movement of a tool, whose edge is moved longitudinally in relation to the working direction. The working angle is about 90 deg.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica [0102].

Notes on contributors

Virginia Lynch

Virginia Lynch, Ph.D. 2014, University of La Plata, is currently Post-Doctoral Researcher at CONICET. She specializes in lithic technologies and micro-wear analysis. She is currently researching cultural changes recorded through lithic technology analysis on Patagonian plateaus.

Jorgelina Vargas Gariglio

Jorgelina Vargas Gariglio, Lic. Anthropology 2015, University of La Plata, is currentlyDoctoral researcher at ANPCyT. She is researching the late settlements of the Somuncurá plateau.

Daniel Terranova Enrique

Daniel Terranova Enrique, Ph.D. 2013, University of La Plata, is currently Post-Doctoral Researcher at CONICET.