Use and forget: Contribution to the discussion about the bone tools called “machacadores” (pounders), Patagonia, South America

Abstract

The presence of distal ends of long bones from ungulates, with evidence of perimeter marking, which have been called machacadores, that is pounders (see references in Table 1), is recurrent in archaeological sites linked to pedestrian hunter-gatherer occupations in Patagonia, from Neuquén to Tierra del Fuego. Although this feature is mainly associated with the treatment of guanaco (Lama guanicoe) long bones, there are also documented cases of other species such as the South Andean deer (Hippocamelus bisulcus) (Sierpe et al., 2009), rheids (Hajduk and Lezcano, 2005; Bourlot, 2010; Buc and Cruz, 2014), pinnipeds (Caracotche et al., 2005) and an extinct camelid (Frank, 2011).It should be noted that the guanaco was the preferred prey for human groups in Patagonia since the earliest occupations.In the northern steppe of the Isla Grande of Tierra del Fuego (Argentina), the frequency of distal and proximal ends of long bones with perimeter marking and/or evidence of usage is significantly high.A total of 170 artefacts made from different guanaco long bones were collected from two archaeological sites: Las Vueltas 1 and Perro 1 (Santiago and Salemme, 2010, 2016a; Santiago, 2013). Specimens from other sites have not been published yet (see Table 1) and their frequencyis lower.The aim of this contribution is to present the results obtained from the experimental program developed to replicate these artefacts that Santiago et al. (2019) called epiphysis with flake negatives, attached flakes and crushing of fibers (ENLyAF for the Spanish acronyms, Epífisis con Negativos de lascados, Lascas adheridas y Aplastamiento de Fibras).Likely, the goal is to reproduce from its production to its usage and, in turn, to compare the data obtained with the study of the archaeological specimens. To that end, a reference collection organized by the authors was employed. The last aim of this work is to contribute the origin of the features identified in different archaeological contexts on epiphysis of guanaco long bones to the long-standing discussion. Currently, two hypotheses about the genesis are proposed: A) it is a fracture technique,or a waste from fracturing associated with the marrow recovery and B) it is an informal artefact with traces resulting from the usage. The results achieved will be possible to unify the criteria for identifying such a characteristic and frequent feature in the hunter-gatherer contexts, especially in Patagonia, while advancing in the definition of their usage patterns.