Distributional Archaeology in the steppes on North Patagonia (Río Negro Province, Argentina)

Abstract

One of the most important legacies of Dr. L.A. Borrero to the archeology of Patagonia has been the application of distributional approaches. The objective of this paper is to present preliminary results obtained from the application of this approach to a recently investigated area lacking prior archaeological research: the plains located between the middle Colorado and Negro rivers (Río Negro province). This arid-semiarid landscape is characterized by xeric vegetalcommunities of the monte shrub elements. The predominant plateau-like relief is interrupted by high ancient geomorphic surfaces and dry lakes. Systematic surface sampling reveals: a) an overwhelming predominance of lithic materials with very little representation of pottery and absence of fauna, and b) that the highest concentration of materials is located around dry lakes. No chronological dates of any kind have been obtained so far but based on material culture (pottery) a minimal chronology of the late Holocene is estimated. Whether hunter-gatherer societies used this interfluvial space as a transit area betweenthe valleys and /or if was used in a more stable residential manner are hypotheses that will be tested in this work.