Abstract

MARTINOLI, María Paz; GUTIERREZ, MaríaA.  and  ZANGRANDO, Atilio Francisco J.. TAPHONOMIC ANALYSIS OF OTARID BONE REMAINS: THE CASE OF THE SOUTH COAST OF TIERRA DEL FUEGO. Comechingonia [online]. 2021, vol.25, n.2, pp.183-210. ISSN 1851-0027.

Specific taphonomic analyses on the frequency of anatomical parts inpinniped bone assemblages have been less frequent compared to those of terrestrial mammals.However, zooarchaeological studies also indicate an interdependence between bone mineral density values (BMD) and economic utility indices (%MUI), which advises the misconception of weighing transport strategies over postdepositional processes.In this article, we propose to analyse separately the preservation conditions of four pinniped archaeological assemblages from Beagle Channel according to skeletal element survival. Considering previous taphonomic studies from coastal sectors of Tierra del Fuego-Patagonia, two groups of elements are defined according to bone mineral density andpattern of carnivore consumption.Results indicate thatpostdepositational processes played a central role in most of the studied assemblages.Our conclusion is that transport strategies in pinnipeds are difficult to recognize due to the influence of taphonomic factors on anatomical profiles. In turn, this result should be considered for the use of economic utility models to perform archaeological interpretations.

Keywords : taphonomy; pinnipeds; survival potential; Beagle Channel.

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