Abstract

MEDINA, Matías E  and  MERINO, Mariano L. The biogeographical and paleoecological importance of the zooarchaeology of Puesto La Esquina 1 (ca. 360 bp), Pampa of Olaen, Cordoba. Intersecciones antropol. [online]. 2012, vol.13, n.2, pp.473-484. ISSN 1850-373X.

This paper reports the presence of Ozotoceros bezoarticus (Artiodactyla, Cervidae) and Holochilus cf. H. brasiliensis (Rodentia, Cricetidae) bone remains at the archaeological site of Puesto La Esquina 1 (ca. 360 AP), Córdoba, Argentina. The possibility that these species inhabited the area in the recent past has not been considered in the biogeographical literature of the Sierras of Córdoba. As such, the paper focuses on the biogeographic and paleocologic implications of their presence at the site instead of economical and taphonomical aspects. It is concluded that vertebrate studies in central Argentina, particularly of mammals, have been based on modern observations and time depth limited historical records. However, ecosystems include long-term variations which can only be understood by averaging decades and/or centuries. Zooarchaeology, which is sensitive to this spatiotemporal variability, is able to present data at an appropriate scale to assess the evolutionary history of local ecosystems and their zoogeographical dynamics, providing evidence related to species distribution and information about wildlife environmental management, conservation biology, and restoration ecology.

Keywords : Ozotoceros bezoarticus; Sierras of Córdoba; Scales; Zoogeographical dinamic.

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