Endscrapers Variability and Differential Use of Landscapes During the Late Holocene in Central-Western Santa Cruz, Patagonia

Abstract

In the last 2500 years BP the environment of Southern Patagonia was affected by significantclimatic changes. In this scenario, in the central-western portion of Santa Cruz province(Patagonia, Argentina), hunter-gatherer populations made a complementary use of the differentecological areas (highlands and lowlands). Differences in artefactual assemblages have beenrecorded in these areas. Within this context, we analyze variability in the most frequent lithicartifact from the region: endscrapers. We assess morphology and compare results betweendifferent sectors from highlands and lowlands. The question is whether the morphology ofendscrapers also differs between ecological areas. Quantitative (length, width and thickness)and qualitative variables (raw material and blank type) were measured on 514 endscrapers.Results show that there are no statistical differences between highlands and lowlands.Variability in dimensions is only detected for some raw materials. Indeed, standardization in themorphology of this type of tool is proposed for the period under study.