Human Use of Bird Resources in the Northeastern Coasts of the Beagle Channel (Tierra del Fuego, Southern South America) During the Late Holocene

Abstract

In Tierra del Fuego, current knowledge of bird use among hunter–gatherer societies is primarily based on research conducted in the central Beagle Channel, whereas little is known about this activity in different southeastern sectors of the island. This study examines bird remains from Late Holocene shell middens located in Moat Bay, at the eastern end of the Beagle Channel. By analyzing taxonomic diversity, procurement, and processing strategies, this paper contributes new insights into avifaunal exploitation in a locality that has received limited archaeological attention. The results indicate that bird exploitation, in terms of resource provisioning and processing patterns, is concentrated on cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae, Leucocarbo sp.), and also on penguins (Spheniscidae), and albatrosses (Diomedeidae) to a lesser extent. Although these outcomes align with previously documented regional trends, distinct local patterns emerge, such as a notable proportion of immature specimens in certain assemblages and taxa. This record suggests that cormorant exploitation could have occurred in colonies during the spring/summer seasons. Additionally, incidental exploitation of certain taxa, such as ducks or geese (Anatidae) and seagulls (Laridae), is documented, and we discuss the incorporation of passerines (Passeriformes) in the archaeological record. Variability in the avifaunal record at Heshkaia locality suggests that Late Holocene bird exploitation involved both regional strategies and localized adjustments, with evidence of seasonal hunting and diverse methods of capture. The predominance of cormorants and the occasional exploitation of procellarids reflect flexible subsistence practices adapted to specific environmental and cultural contexts.