Possible Fishing Structures on the West Coast of San Matias Gulf, Rio Negro, Patagonia Argentina

Abstract

Systematic archaeological studies carried out in the San Matias Gulfarea for over 10 years show an intensive fishing signal, one of the mostprominentof the Patagonian Atlantic coast. Thesefishingactivitiesweredated from ca. 6000 to 400 BP.We detect at least three rocky structuresin the muddy estuarine coast of Islote Lobos archaeological locality.Because of their location and appearance, these rock alignments resemblestone weirs or fish traps like those recorded worldwide. Thefindings reported here are of great relevance because no other similar devices were detected on the continental coast of Patagonia Argentinato date.