Tinamous exploitation pattern in the norpatagonian coast (Argentina) during the late holocene

Authors

  • Hernán Marani Doctorando de la Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, UNLP
  • Florencia Borella CONICET-INCUAPA, UNCPBA. Av. del Valle 5737, (B7400JWI). Olavarría, Buenos Aires

Abstract

The need of evaluating the role played by small-sized birds in the subsistence of hunter-gatherer groups has been emphasized in recent years. Although their presence has been noted in different archaeological sites in northern Patagonia, their use as a subsistence resource has not been fully discussed. This paper presents the analysis of late Holocene Tinamous remains retrieved from a shell midden at the archaeological locality Paesani (site 5), north Patagonian coast (Río Negro, Argentina). Detailed anatomical identification and adequate taxonomic and cutting marks recognition was possible given the good state of preservation of the entire avifaunal record, thus providing clues about the food processing patterns of small prey.

Keywords:

Tinamous, Small-Sized Birds, Processing Patterns, Late Holocene