Late Prehistoric High-Altitude Hunter-Gatherer Residential Occupations in the Argentine Southern Andes

Abstract

Test excavations were conducted at Risco de los Indios (RDLI), a site at 2480 masl with 29 residential features and a well-developed midden containing abundant floral, faunal, lithic, and ceramic materials. Analyses indicate the site was intensively used CA. 500 CAL B.P. as a residential base for groups focused on hunting guanaco, supplemented by locally-available wild flora and fauna as well as domestic beans transported from the lowlands. Ceramic and obsidian artifacts indicate these groups were highly mobile and in contact with groups on the eastern and western margins of the Andes. These patterns compare favorably to those seen in the region's other high altitude villages. It appears that the development of these patterns began with population increase and economic intensification in the lowlands CA. 2000 CAL B.P. and that the move to slightly lower elevation settings like RDLI may have been conditioned by the onset of the Little Ice Age.

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

“…For this analysis, we consider zooarchaeological samples from nine archaeological sites that date to the Late Holocene in the Diamante River basin. None of these sites have been defined as special purpose sites (Giardina et al, ; Morgan et al, ; Neme, ; Neme et al, ). These include Altoandino Desert open air sites that date from 1,500 to 500 BP , El Indígeno, Risco de los Indios, and Laguna del Diamante‐4, which present unique features within the region (Data S1).…”

“…These include Altoandino Desert open air sites that date from 1,500 to 500 BP , El Indígeno, Risco de los Indios, and Laguna del Diamante‐4, which present unique features within the region (Data S1). Their main characteristics are the presence of semicircular housing structures built with local rocks and a higher frequency of pottery (Durán, Neme, Cortegoso, & Gil, ; Morgan et al, ; Neme et al, ). They are located near springs and lakes, which form attractive patches for aquatic and terrestrial fauna.…”

“…There is a strong presence of non‐local materials that denotes contact between populations from both sides of the Andes. These sites have been defined as residential sites with prolonged summer residence, as these locations are inaccessible during winter due to the snow cover (Morgan et al, ; Neme et al, ).…”

“…Altoandino sites were occupied later, around 1,000 years BP as residential bases of hunter–gatherers focused on hunting of guanacos. Sites were occupied for several weeks during summer seasons, when these highlands areas are without snow cover, and guanacos also migrate to those areas (Neme, , Neme et al, ; Morgan et al, ).…”

Consumo de fauna y funcionalidad de sitios: Testeando hipótesis en los Andes meridionales

“…Está compuesto por al menos 29 estructuras circulares, en una de ellas las cuales (la estructura 22) se realizó un sondeo de 1 m 2 . Los fechados obtenidos sitúan las ocupaciones de este sitio en aproximadamente 500 cal aP (Tabla 1; Morgan et al 2017; Neme et al 2016).…”