Advances in Archaeobotany of Central-Eastern Argentina: Dynamics in the Use of Plants from the Early Holocene to Colonial Times Through the Analysis of Micro and Macro Plant Remains

Abstract

In central-eastern Argentina, analyses in dental tartar and in material adhering to ceramics, sedimentary matrices and charcoal have been carried out at archaeological sites in Córdoba, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos and Buenos Aires. This made it possible to detect the use of local and introduced plants, in pre- and post-colonial contexts, for food, construction, fuel and medicinal purposes, among others. The chronology of the sites varies between 10,000 and 300 years BP approximately, and they correspond to caves and overhangs, in the open air and on mounds. Different methods were used: established protocols were followed for the study of plant microremains and xylologicalanalysis was used for the taxonomic identification of the archaeological charcoals. The results obtained made it possible to evaluate the selection preferences of useful species and to estimate possible exchange routes. The main conclusions include the presence of wheat (Triticum sp.) and peach (Prunus sp.) as indicators of the introduction of exogenous material and the consumption and/or manipulation of wild rice (Oryzoideae), chañar (Geoffroea decorticans), carob (Neltuma sp. ex Prosopis sp. (Hughes et al. 2022), and palm (Arecaceae) throughout the period analysed. In addition, morphotypes related to squash (Cucurbitaceae), beans (Phaselous sp.), and maize (Zea mays) were identified as resources of later incorporation. Finally, a varied use of local fuel speciessuch as Neltuma and extra-local species such as Araucaria.