Risk and technological decision-making during the early to mid-Holocene transition: A comparative perspective in the Argentine Puna

Abstract

In this work, the technological changes that took place in the Argentine Puna from the early to mid Holocene are studied, considering settlements at the Alero Cuevas and Alero Hornillos 2 sites. From the perspective of the Human Behavioral Ecology, such changes can be explained considering the risk-minimization in the context of significant environmental fluctuations. Towards the mid Holocene, trends towards technological diversification and an increase in efficiency-related costs are noticeable. These changes are interpreted as new technological variants under different ecological and social circumstances.