Exploring Technological Choices in Fishtail Points from Southern Contexts: A Comparative Overview

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we seek to understand the variabilility in the technology of Fishtail points (FTPs). For this purpose, we consider three questions as a starting point: (a) How were FTPs made? (b) What were FTPs made for? and (c) Who made them? To answer these questions we analyze a sample from several archaeological sites in Argentinean Patagonia. We differentiate knapping stages and evaluate weapon systems using a wide set of variables to assign the lithic heads to specific weapons. Finally, we interpret the results, taking into account the provenance context of the sample. In agreement with previous results, we propose that there were at least two ways to manufacture FTP points, and these objects had acted probably in two different weapons systems. Furthermore, we propose that FTPs may be related to a multiplicity of actors, involving kids, apprentices, and experts, as well as different use contexts.

KEYWORDS:

• Lithic technology
• design
• first Americans
• weapons systems

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Rocío Blanco for her reading of this manuscript and her valuable comments. In addition, we would like to thank the neighbors and authorities of Somuncurá Plateau (Río Negro province) and Pico Truncado (Santa Cruz province). Finally, we thank the editors and anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments, which helped us to improve the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

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

Notes

1 Although this feature of the landscape is named “lagoon”, in hydrological terms it is a temporary lake of an endorheic basin.

2 For further information about obsidian sources see Miotti et al. (2012) and Bellelli et al. (2018).

3 This term is used to refer to the particular way in which pointed basal corners were shaped in FTP technology (see Bird and Cooke 1977; Nami 2015, 2021).

4 Interestingly, in the experiments carried out by Flegenheimer et al. (2010) base width measurements are not mentioned; however, the shafts used have diameters of 14 mm (darts and spears) and 22 and 33 mm (spears).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica [Grant Number 0102]; UNTreF [Grant Number 32-525I]; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas [Grant Number 0153]; UNLP [Grant Number N831].

Notes on contributors

Darío Hermo

Darío Hermo earned his titles in Anthropology at Universidad Nacional de La Plata. His specialties are lithic technology, landscape archaeology and Americas' peopling. He has published numerous articles on diverse topics in New World archaeology, including first americans, Patagonian archaeology, weapons systems, archaeological landscapes, material culture and experimental archaeology. Currently, he is a teacher in American Archeology (FCNyM, UNLP) and in postgraduate courses in Cultural Diversity (UNTreF).

Laura Miotti

Laura Miotti is a specialist in Paleoindian archeology and zooarchaeology. Miotti's other research interests include rock art, landscape archeology, and ritual behavior. She is currently Head of the Archaeology Division of the Museo de La Plata, Senior Researcher at CONICET and Chair Professor American Archeology (FCNyM, UNLP).

Enrique Terranova

Enrique Terranova is an archaeologist primarily interested in arid environments, intersite variability, and raw materials procurement, with a geographic emphasis in the Somuncurá Plateau (Argentina). He is currently engaged in multiple research projects involving chronology and distributional archaeology geared towards understanding the peopling of the Patagonia and the later cultural changes. He also teaches in American Archeology (FCNyM, UNLP).