Social trajectories of hunter-gatherer societies in Central Argentina. Exploration and colonization of a desert landscape, La Pampa province, Argentina

Abstract

Profuse archaeological evidence recovered in La Pampa province,Argentina; let us understand the trajectory of the hunter-gatherer groups in a semi-desertenvironment throughout the Holocene. The chronological distribution ofradiocarbon dates indicates an early colonization of the southern end of this largeterritory (ca. 8600 years BP), a gap of information between ca. 6000 and 5000 yearsBP, and a re-colonization from ca. 5000 years BP onwards. The oldest settlementsin the region offer shallow records in the Early and Middle Holocene, according tothe archaeological record of 4 main loci: site 1 of Casa de Piedra locality in the MidColorado River Basin microregion, Tapera Moreira site 1 located in the Chadileuvú-CuracóBasin microregion, El Carmel located in the Valles Transversales microregionand Cerro de los Viejos located in Bajos sin Salida microregion. The humangroups settled in spaces where resources were concentrated, but circulated in landscapeswith varied topographies. This situation turns to be more complex in the LateHolocene, when a demographic growth is recorded. During this stage, climatic conditionsstabilize, the exploitation of local resources is emphasized, formal burialstructures appear, and increase the presence of extra-regional elements such asalloctonus rocks, mineral raw materials, pottery, ornaments and foreign people as asign of large-scale interactions. In this stage the Mid Colorado River Basin microregionis repopulated, the occupation of the Chadileuvú-Curacó microregion continuesand new microregions are occupied, such as Southern Pampean Hills, Bajossin Salida and Valles Transversales microregions.