New Evidence of Grinding Activities in Patagonian Steppe during the Late Holocene (ca. 2000 Years BP): the Laguna Azul Site (Somuncurá Plateau, Río Negro Province, Argentina)

ABSTRACT

is paper aims to present the first record of micro vegetable remains in grinding-stone tools found in hunter-gatherer contexts located in Laguna Azul (Somuncurá plateau, Argentina). These grinding-stone tools resulted from excavations of two hunting blinds (known as “parapets”) related to late Holocene radiocarbon dates of 1756 ± 28 years BP (D-007084; δ 13C = 20.2‰) and 1906 ± 26 years BP (D-007085; δ 13C = −19.8‰). The combination of micro-wear and starch grains studies allows us to discuss the autochthonous and allochthonous vegetation processing activities. From these remains, four types of vegetation with nutritive potential were identified: Chenopodaceas, Amaranthaceas, Prosopis sp. and Araucaria sp. The grinding stone tools’ microscopic analysis gave evidence of the specific processing motions employed. This evidence-based data enables us to discuss the relationship between the hunter-gatherers and their environment during the late Holocene and also to establish new assumptions about circuits of mobility and communication.

RESUMEN

El propósito de este artículo es presentar el primer registro de microrestos vegetales en artefactos de molienda obtenidos en contextos de cazadores-recolectores en la localidad arqueológica de Laguna Azul (Meseta de Somucurá, provincia de Río Negro, Argentina). Los instrumentos de molienda son resultado de la excavación de dos parapetos asociados al Holoceno tardío (parapeto 3-P3): 1756 ± 28 años AP (D-007084; carbón; δ 13C = 20.2‰) 1906 ± 26 años AP (D-007085; carbón; δ 13C = −19.8‰). Los estudios traceológicos y de detección de almidones y su reconocimiento taxonómico, permitió discutir la posible evidencia de actividades de procesamiento, y el registro de especies vegetales autóctonas y alóctonas. A partir de estos estudios se identificaron cuatro tipos de vegetales con potencial alimenticio: Chenopodaceas, Amaranthaceas, Prosopis sp. y Araucaria sp.; mediante la observación realizada a bajos aumentos se pudieron determinar los movimientos específicos empleados en su procesamiento. Esta información representa un gran aporte a la discusión sobre las relaciones establecidas entre las sociedades cazadoras-recolectoras de la estepa patagónica y su entorno durante el Holoceno tardío; al igual que permite establecer nuevos supuestos acerca de los circuitos de movilidad.

KEYWORDS:

• Starch grains
• use-wear analysis
• grinding tools
• hunter-gatherers
• Somuncurá plateau

PALABRAS CLAVE:

• almidones
• análisis traceológicos
• artefactos de molienda
• cazadores
• recolectores
• meseta de Somuncurá

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Teófilo F. Pazos for welcoming us into his home. To our colleagues who worked with us in the field and to Lucía Magnín and Julieta Lynch for helping us draft and translate this paper. The fieldwork was carried out with the support of UNLP-PI N665, PIP CONICET 00153, and PICT 2017 1152. Although the research and ideas of many people are integrated into this paper, we assume full responsibility for its content.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National University of La Plata UNLP-PI N665, CONICET PIP 00153, and PICT 2017 1152.

Notes on contributors

Jorgelina Vargas Gariglio

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

Marco A. Giovannetti

Marco A. Giovannetti, Ph.D. 2009 University of La Plata, is currently Post-Doctoral Researcher at CONICET. He specializes in the study of archaeological starches.

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.