Macro-regional interaction processes in the south-central Andes along the Holocene (ca.10000-500 BP): Obsidian circulation, cultural transmission and evidence of allochthonous materials at archaeological sites in the Puna of Salta, North-western Argentina

Abstract

This paper presents new archaeological information to analyse and discuss the processes of macro-regional interaction that occurred along the Holocene in the highlands of the north-western Argentina, also known as Puna. Primarily, this research work is focused on the provenance of obsidian recovered in lithic assemblages of the Alero Cuevas, Abrigo Pozo Cavado, Abra de Minas and Cueva Inca Viejo sites, located in the Puna of Salta. These sites have radiocarbon dates between ca. 10000 BP and 500 BP. Specifically, the obsidian sources were determined through the analysis of samples by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF). As a result, the circulation of obsidian from diverse areas of the Puna allowed me to analyse human interaction on different spatial scales, which even covered distances of around 300 km. Likewise, a brief description of other archaeological indicators was made in order to study this topic, including morphological and technological changes in the lithic material, the presence of feathers, wood and seeds from the lowlands, and the caravans of camelids in the rock-art. Finally, the results presented are also important for understanding the transmission of cultural information within processes of interaction on broad spatial and chronological scales in the South-central Andes.