THE COARSE VOLCANIC ROCK INDUSTRY AT RIO IBÁÑEZ 6 WEST, AISÉN REGION, PATAGONIAN CHILE

Abstract

Excavations at the stratified rockshelter, Rio Ibáñez 6 west (RI-6 west), located in west-central Patagonia, uncovered a previously unrecognized lithic industry featuring the production of a range of tools from coarse volcanic rock actually derived from the wall of the shelter. Tool forms from this material at RI-6 west include a variety of bifaces, projectile points, picks, knives, and wedges. This paper will present a description of the industry with a focus on production techniques and tool functions. Conclusions are drawn with a focus on relationships between patterns of lithic technology and those associated with food procurement and processing activities. The study suggests that tools were produced to function as situational and transported personal gear. An implication is that many factors affect decisions to use coarse stone for tool production and use.

Keywords:

• Lithic technology
• Coarse volcanic rock
• Patagonia
• Hunter-gatherers

Acknowledgments

Research at Rio Ibáñez 6 west was funded by a grant from FONDECYT (Grant# 1110556) to Dr Francisco Mena to study the archaeology of the central Rio Ibáñez valley. Field research in 2012 was conducted via an archaeological field school from The University of Montana organized as a partnership with the Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia. We thank the field school students for their hard work in the field. We thank Francisco Mena and colleagues for their assistance in facilitating all aspects of the research including arranging to have four lithic artifacts shipped to The University of Montana for analysis. We thank Marlize Lombard for looking at images of residues and consulting with us on interpretations. We thank Carlos Rodríguez Rellán for inviting us to submit this paper and for his guidance during the publication process. Finally, we thank Francisco Mena and two anonymous peer reviewers for their comments on this paper.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Anna Marie Prentiss

Anna Marie Prentiss is a professor in the Department of Anthropology at The University of Montana. She holds a Ph.D. from Simon Fraser University and has research interests in hunter-gatherers, lithic technology, and evolutionary theory. She recently published (with Matthew J. Walsh) “Cultural Macroevolution in the Pacific Northwest: A Phylogenetic Test of the Diversification and Decimation Model.” (2014, Journal of Archaeological Science 41:29-43).

Correspondence to: Anna Marie Prentiss. Email: [email protected]

Matthew J. Walsh

Matthew J. Walsh is a doctoral candidate at The University of Montana-Missoula. He received his BA with Honors from the University of Washington. Matt specializes in zooarchaeology and assessing change in hunter-gatherer subsistence strategies. Much of his work integrates environmental archaeology and studies of evolutionary patterns in cultural change and adaptation. He has worked in the Russian Far East, Chilean Patagonia, Alaska, and throughout northwestern North America.

Kristen D. Barnett

Kristen D. Barnett is a doctoral candidate at The University of Montana in Missoula, MT where she specializes in pre-colonial hunter-gatherer archaeology. She holds a B.A. in anthropology from The University of Montana. Her research emphases include GIS, lithic technology, and indigenous and feminist theories. She has conducted field research in Alaska, Chile, and northwestern North America.

Mary-Margaret Murphy

Mary-Margaret Murphy is an anthropology student at The University of Montana in pursuit of an MA degree focusing on the study of 3D metrology and applied methodology for human cranio-facial research. Her professional interests are focused on the application of 3D technology to the study of human remains and human history. She works with surface-scanning technology and 3D software to capture, model and measure materials in a digital environment. Concurrent with her graduate studies she has been working with The University of Montana to build a 3-D imaging facility for multi-disciplinary research.

Justin Kuenstle

Justin Kuenstle is an undergraduate student in anthropology at The University of Montana. He has participated in archaeological field work in Chile and British Columbia.