Initial Occupations in the Lower Deseado River Basin (Argentine Patagonia): Human Dispersal Models

Abstract

Based on new stratigraphic and chronological evidence from the Early and Middle Holocene in one area of the northeastern Santa Cruz province, situated between the marine and inland environments of Argentine Patagonia, the characteristics of what have been identified as the initial occupations of the lower Deseado River basin are discussed from a paleogeographic perspective. These contexts are near the river’s watercourse, which may serve as a pathway for movement during exploration and early colonization. Multiple lines of evidence support this interpretation. When assessing potential optimal routes connecting the basin’s different environments, convergent paths were identified along the river course and early occupation sites, reinforcing its role as a connector between coastal and inland areas.