New Evidences of Early Peopling of Central Patagonia: A Discoidal Stone and the First Fishtail Projectile Point from Chubut Province (Argentina, South America)

Abstract

In this paper, two new artifacts, a Fishtail projectile (or Fell 1) point and a discoidal stone fromcentral Patagonia, Argentina, are presented. These pieces, mainly associated with the initialpeopling of South America, come from an area in which until now no artifacts of this type hadbeen recovered. Both instruments, which were part of the technological equipment ofPaleoamericans, are complete. The projectile point is made of light brown translucent opal, andthe discoidal stone is made of rhyolite, an acidic volcanic rock. Three-dimensional models of theinstruments are presented with the aim of providing a detailed and precise record of both lithicpieces. These archaeological artifacts give information on the geographical distribution ofindicators of initial human presence and the use of space during the Pleistocene–Holocenetransition in central Patagonia, in the south of South America.