New evidence to discuss Guaraní occupations in the lower Paraná River. The case of Cerro de las Pajas Blancas 1 archaeological site (Santa FE, Argentina)

Abstract

This paper discusses new results obtained from the study of archaeological remains recovered at Cerro de las Pajas Blancas 1 (CDLPB1), located in the insular sector of the Lower Paraná River (Santa Fe province, Argentina). CDLPB1 has been considered a classic site within the Northeastern Argentinean archaeological literature, as it shows evidence of Guaraní occupations. In this paper we present the first characterization of the site's stratigraphic sequence, as well as the results of the pottery techno-morphological analysis and, the zooarchaeological, archaeobotanical and bioarchaeological studies. The diverse faunal resources recorded, such as rodents, deer and fish, along with charred maize and wild vegetables, suggests that the indigenous people that occupied the settlement had a subsistence based on hunting, fishing, and a small-scale horticulture. The style of the ceramic technology includes vessels with simple forms, drag and jab decoration and, modeled zoomorphic appendages. The analysis of the multiple lines of evidence leads to the conclusion that CDLPB1 is more clearly associated with the Goya-Malabrigo archaeological entity than to a Guaraní settlement. The Guaraní had occupied the site after it was abandoned by local groups related to Goya-Malabrigo.