First AMS radiocarbon dating of Río Chico style paintings (southernmost Patagonia, Argentina): Older than expected

Abstract

This paper presents the first AMS 14C dating of the Río Chico Style from southernmost Patagonia (52°S). These paintings are characterised by the dominance of geometric linear motifs and a low frequency of figurative ones. According to a few indirect radiocarbon dating of stratified pigments and the chronology of nearby sites, the Río Chico Style has traditionally been dated to ca. 2000 BP, although an earlier chronology (ca. 8000 BP) has also been proposed according to Fell Cave (Magallanes, Chile) stratigraphy. Here we present the first AMS 14C dating for this style from three rock paintings at Romario Barría Rockshelter (Pali Aike volcanic field, Santa Cruz province, Argentina). The main objectives of this work are, first, to discuss the chronology of the Río Chico style from direct and indirect datings, second, evaluate the use of the site according to painting manufacture, and finally, analyse the distribution of Río Chico style at the regional scale and its connections with other lines of evidence, such as lithic assemblages, to discuss the role of rock art in highly mobile southern Patagonia hunter-gatherer societies.