Shallow Lake Environments in the Hunter-Gatherer's Way of Life (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina)

Abstract

In the semiarid environment of the Fuegian steppe (Argentina), shallow lakes were intensively exploited by hunter-gatherers throughout the Holocene. The archeological record concentrated along their shoreline frequently reports the first stages of the lithic reduction sequence. In this article, the defining elements of the knapping event, as well as rock availability at different coastal sectors in Lake Amalia, are thus considered. The data focuses on the size and weight of the cobbles used as raw material (in Lake Amalia and nearby locations), aiming to compare transported material and that which is spatially located. Information regarding the role played by shallow lakes in the exploitation of steppe environments and their importance in hunter-gatherer?s mobility is analyzed. It is suggested that raw material frequency, size and spatial distribution have conditioned space-use patterns in the Fuegian steppe. The study case of the Amalia locality sheds light on recurrent visits to these landscapes, particularly to specific places.