Recycled Fishtail Points in the Argentinian Pampa: Everyday Tools on Distinctive Paleoamerican Objects?

Abstract

In this paper, we present the case of recycled Fishtail points from a late Pleistocene site in the Pampean Tandilia ranges, Argentina. Detailed descriptions of the recycled tools are integrated with previous breakage and fatty-acids analysis. We assess if the practice of recycling was related to a specific task, a conservative strategy, functional reasons, and if other non-economic reasons may have played a significant role. Results show a marked selection of certain fragments to manufacture burin-like tools and a few other tool types. We propose that recycling of Fishtail points played a role in making and repairing weapons, and that different factors must be considered to explain the reasons behind this practice.