Obsidian Projectile Points: Patterns of Variation and Range of Mobility during the Mid-Holocene in the Salt Puna of NW Argentina, South-Central Andes

Abstract

Although projectile points have dominated the discussion of Paleoindian archaeology in North and South America, this tool class has not figured prominently in the archaeology of hunter-gatherers of the South-Central Andes. Here we present a typological, technological and morphological analysis of obsidian, quartzite and vulcanite projectile points found in Middle Holocene sites. We compare projectile points from tightly dated stratigraphic contexts in the region of Antofagasta de la Sierra, Catamarca, and investigate patterns of technological, morphological and stylistic variation between projectile points manufactured of local and non-local raw materials. Geochemical source identification is used to draw general archaeological implications regarding wide mobility range that includes the use of five sources distant 30-120 km.