Least cost path models are useful tools within GIS that allow to estimate conducive areas to the movement of humans and other species of animals. Particularly for the equestrian mobility, these models generate expectations on path networks that can be tested against archaeological information and written sources on spaces occupied by indigenous equestrian groups of historic times. Here, a spatial analysis with geographic, ethnohistorical and historical data of equestrian groups that occupied the area between Chico and Santa Cruz river basins (Province of Santa Cruz, Argentina) is presented. Due to archaeological sites of historical times detected so far are scarce, assessing the potential of the area to recognize them is becoming increasingly important. Model results give us clues about how the archaeological search could be re-focused to spaces that have not yet been prospected. Additionally, they raise expectations about the expected evidence for different types of settlement, including seasonal or longer term occupations.
Ciriglianoi, N. A., & Palloii, M. C. (2016). Between Path and Horses: A Gis Model to Locate Archaeological Sites of Equestrian Historical Times (Province of Santa Cruz, Argentina). Revista Chilena De Antropología, (32). Retrieved from https://revistadeantropologia.uchile.cl/index.php/RCA/article/view/42502
