¿intensificación en La Cordillera Del Sur De Mendoza?: Un Enfoque Tafonómico

Abstract

RESUMENEn esta contribución se reconsideran las propuestas previas sobre el proceso de intensificación en la explotación de recursos en la región cordillerana del sur de Mendoza, Argentina. Se hace especial énfasis en examinar la existencia de variaciones en el consumo de fauna, teniendo en cuenta un aspecto que no había sido considerado anteriormente: los procesos tafonómicos. Los resultados de dichos análisis señalan que, si bien las condiciones de preservación de las arqueofaunas no son óptimas, los daños post-depositacionales no habrían condicionado los resultados taxonómicos observados. En cuanto a las presas consumidas, se observa que, si bien existe un aumento en la cantidad de taxones aprovechados en momentos posteriores al mencionado proceso de intensificación, la contribución relativa de los mismos no habría sido tan significativa como para señalar cambios en las estrategias de obtención de las presas.PALABRAS CLAVE: procesos de intensificación, Centro Oeste Argentino, diversidad faunística, tafonomía, holoceno tardío. INTENSIFICATION PROCESS IN SOUTHERN MENDOZA ANDEAN CORDILLERA?A TAPHONOMIC PERSPECTIVE ABSTRACTIn this contribution, previous proposals about an intensification process in resource exploitation in Southern Mendoza Andean Cordillera are reconsidered. The studies of variations in faunal consumption are specially emphasized taking into consideration an aspect that was not considered previously: the taphonomic process. The results of such analyses showed that, even though the preservation is not good, post-depositional damage may not conditioned taxonomic results. On the other hand, prey consumption analyses show that even though existed an increase in the quantity of taxa consumed after the mentioned intensification process, the relative contribution of each taxon was uneven, and not very significative to conduct changes in hunting strategies.

Resource Exploitation and Human Mobility: Trends in the Archaeofaunal and Isotopic Record from Central Western Argentina

“…Ideas concerning resource intensification were supported in part by archaeobotany and recent archaeofaunal data (Giardina, ; Llano, ; Otaola et al ., ). However, while the archaeobotanical record shows strong evidence for intensification (Llano, ; Llano et al ., ), new archaeofaunal data suggest that this process could only be supported in some of the southern Mendoza biogeographic regions (Giardina, ; Otaola, ).…”

“…The total sample includes 93 222 bone specimens, 12 471 (13.3%) of which were identified at least to the family taxonomic level. In general, the predominant weathering stages are one or two on the Behrensmeyer scale (Gil & Neme, 1996;Otaola, 2013), increasing to three or four at high-altitude sites where environmental conditions are harsher (Neme, 2007).…”

“…In order to determine whether the negative correlation between diversity and altitude (less diversity at higher elevations) affected previous interpretations (Neme & Table 1. Zooarchaeological assemblages used in this paper (Giardina, 2010;Fernández, 2012;Otaola et al, 2012) Gil, 2008), we calculated the Shannon diversity index for each assemblage (Table 1) and then correlated (Spearman's rho) the obtained values with their altitude. The negative correlation between diversity and altitude is weak (r s = À0.16; p = 0.34).…”

“…During the last 10 years, the archaeofaunal record from the southern Mendoza province (Figure 1) has been used to address several subjects related to human subsistence (Neme et al, 1995, Neme & Gil, 2008Giardina, 2010;Otaola, 2013). Scholars have tried to explain differences in archaeological tendencies through time by applying optimal foraging theory.…”

Human biogeography and faunal exploitation in Diamante River basin, central western Argentina

“…The faunal analyses presented in this paper are discussed within a biogeographic perspective and pivoting the intensification concept, which was broadly approached in several research projects of central western Argentina (Neme & Gil, ; Neme et al, ; Otaola, ; Otaola et al , Otaola et al, ; Wolverton et al, ). Morgan () proposes that the intensification concept should be used following a strict “Boserupian” definition, which entails declining foraging efficiency, understood as the increase in total productivity per unit of time and space (i.e., Boserup, ; Broughton, ).…”