Circulation of Goods and Information in Southern Patagonia During the Late Holocene: An Integrated Analysis of Engravings and Black Obsidian Artefacts

Abstract

This paper explores the strategies implemented by hunter-gatherer groups in Southern Patagonia during the Late Holocene regarding the circulation of goods and information. Previous archaeological investigations revealed that important changes in human mobility and land use patterns occurred during these times linked to drier environmental conditions in comparison to earlier time ranges. In this context we undertake a broad spatial scale analysis of the circulation of goods and information through the integrated examination of two lines of evidence: rock art and lithic raw materials. Specifically, we consider the distribution of engravings and black obsidian artefacts assigned to the Late Holocene. It is understood that, although not exclusively, the former can offer insight into the circulation of information, while the latter are indicative of the circulation of goods. Our analysis suggests that during this period different strategies were developed by hunter-gatherer groups to face the changing environment. Several implications concerning social interaction and the movement of people during this period in Southern Patagonia are discussed.