Actualistic Study of a Dense Concentration of Bone Remains in the Central Plateau of Santa Cruz Province (Argentina)

Abstract

This work analyzes a modern bone concentration at Cueva 7, in Los Toldos archaeological locality, aspart of the taphonomic studies that we have carried out in the northeast of the Central Plateau of SantaCruz province (Argentina). The goal of this work is to identify the actualistic taphonomic patterns thatcan contribute to a better interpretation of the archaeological sites in caves or rock shelters where piles ordense bone concentrations were registered in the study region. From the identification of differenttaxonomic, anatomic, mortality, and bone modification patterns in this highly-dense accumulation, weevaluate the possible causes of its formation, and produce actualistic information which may be of use tolearn about the different processes that accumulate and scatter zooarchaeological remains in the caveenvironments of the study area. The results show a monospecific assemblage integrated by no less than43 Ovis aries individuals whose death was natural. The accumulation is characterized by a naturaldisarticulation pattern, which appears to be more accelerated in appendicular elements, a homogenousweathering profile with minor differences that may be associated with the microenvironments recordedinside the cave, and the very low incidence of natural agents, where trampling was the highest. Thiswork thus provides valuable actualistic information that can be used as a parameter in the determination of possible natual contamination in archaeological contexts.