Abstract

MARTINOLI, María Paz. Procesamiento y consumo de pinnípedos: el caso de las ocupaciones canoeras tempranas del sitio Imiwaia I (Tierra del Fuego, República Argentina). Intersecciones antropol. [online]. 2015, vol.16, n.2, pp.367-381. ISSN 1850-373X.

The main objective of this article is to analyze the processing and consumption patterns of pinnipeds in the early human occupations of the Beagle Channel region. In order to achieve this aim, the modes of exploitation of these marine mammals is evaluated on the basis of the bone assemblages recovered from archaeological deposits at Imiwaia I site (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina), dated to around 6000 years BP. The age and sex profiles of exploited animals is presented, as well as a detailed study of bone modifications. The results show: a) a clear predominance of juvenile/subadult indeterminate sex and male adult specimens of Arctocephalus australis; b) all anatomical units of these individuals are present; and c) cut marks are mostly represented on the proximal and distal regions of long bone diaphyses and on the proximal and medial areas of ribs. These data support the view that it is unlikely that most of the identified prey were captured in rookeries. The animals arrived whole at the site, where they underwent primary disarticulation and then were butchered into smaller portions.

Keywords : Beagle Channel; Early occupations; Pinnipeds; Exploitation.

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