Otoliths as indicators for fish behaviour and procurement strategies of hunter-gatherers in north Patagonia

Abstract

This study evaluates the potential use of archaeological otoliths of Genidens barbus (Cuvier and Valenciennes) as a tool to study fish behavior and hunter-gatherers procurement strategies on the North Patagonian coast. The studied samples come from the San Antonio archaeological locality dated at ca. 1000-800 14C yr BP (Late Holocene). To assess whether exposure to fire significantly affects the otolith Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca ratios, burned and unburned modern lapilli otoliths have been analyzed by Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and no statistically significant differences were found between the results of both treatments. Core-toedge chemical time series were carried out on ancient otoliths (ca. 1000 14C yr BP) in order to study the fish life history. Three amphidromous patterns were found for ancient samples. The capture environments and seasons inferred by the otolith edge chemistry and marginal increase, respectively, suggest a location in high salinity water (estuary and sea) in summer. Finally, to estimate the size of archaeological fish, a linear regression between total length and otolith length was constructed using 70 modern catfish otoliths. The size variability (358–610 mm) might indicate the use of non-selective capture techniques, probably nets, by hunter-gatherer groups.