Taphonomy of the Tres Arroyos 1 Rockshelter, Tierra del Fuego, Chile

doi:10.1016/S1040-6182(02)00205-7

Quaternary International

Volumes 109–110, 2003, Pages 87-93

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1040-6182(02)00205-7 Get rights and content

Abstract

A discussion concerning the main formation processes implied in the accumulation of Layer Va at Tres Arroyos 1 Rockshelter, Tierra del Fuego, Chile, is presented. This site was intensively studied by an interdisciplinary team led by Mauricio Massone, and produced evidence of human occupation dated around 10 500 yr BP. This evidence includes remains of extant as well as extinct fauna in physical association with lithic artifacts and hearths. A taphonomic analysis of the bones is used to assess the different formation processes involved in the accumulation of Layer Va bone assemblage. Several processes, especially bioturbation were identified, and should be taken into account in order to explain the formation of the layer.

Introduction

For decades, the Late Pleistocene record of Tierra del Fuego was close to nonexistent. This was due to both lack of research as well as scarcity of deposits of the appropriate age. The earliest archaeological site, Marazzi, was imperfectly dated ca. 9000 yr BP (Laming-Emperaire, 1968; Laming-Emperaire et al., 1972). Without a detailed publication, neither the content nor the age of the lower deposits of Marazzi were clear. Recently the original collection was re-studied (Morello Repetto, 2000) and the site was reexcavated (Morello Repetto et al., 1999). No evidence of extinct fauna was found. It was only with the discovery of the Tres Arroyos site at the Cerro de los Onas locality, that the Pleistocene record of the island of Tierra del Fuego began to be known (Massone, 1983). This paper will be focused in the preliminary analysis of the faunal remains recovered at this shelter, particularly from Layer Va, dated ca. 10 500 yr BP Layers Vb and VI, also containing Pleistocene fauna, will only be treated for comparative purposes.

Section snippets

The Tres Arroyos 1 Rockshelter

Tres Arroyos 1 (TA1) is a small rockshelter of about 70 m². It is formed on the Carmen Sylva Formation, located at 92 m a.s.l. (Massone et al., 1993). It is one of the many sites discovered within the Cerro de los Onas locality (53° 23′ S; 68°47′ W) where Mauricio Massone, from the Biblioteca Nacional, Santiago de Chile, directed two research projects. The site was partially excavated between 1981 and 1986 and between 1996 and 1998.

Results

One of the properties of this assemblage is that it is highly fragmented. Moreover, the only complete elements are teeth, phalanges, dermal ossicles and articulations. The fractures look old, without changes in colour, staining or weathering that may indicate differences in exposition.

Table 3 presents some of the results of this study. It is clear that manganese oxidation is an important process at TA1, with at least ten horse bones (55%), 68 guanaco bones (78%) and 49 Lama sp. bones (71%)

Conclusions

Taking into account the many indications of vertical migration of bone, it is necessary to make a distinction between the bones that were recovered in Pleistocene deposits and those which are of Pleistocene age. Independent chronology, together with the analysis of several taphonomic variables and spatial distribution is the minimum required in order to assess the penecontemporaneity of artifacts and bones. Radiocarbon is the only safe way to assign ages to particular elements. The problem of

Acknowledgments

The project was funded by an FONDECYT Grant to Mauricio Massone (Nr. 1960027). I thank to all the members of the Project “Hombre Temprano y paleoambiente en Tierra del Fuego,” particularly to Alfredo Prieto and Fabiana M. Martin who also work in the taphonomy of the Cerro de los Onas locality. I am very grateful to Pedro Cárdenas who help me to deal with the bones stored at the Instituto de la Patagonia, and to Mateo Martinic for his support to this study. My taphonomic work was also partially

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Taphonomy of the Tres Arroyos 1 Rockshelter, Tierra del Fuego, Chile

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

The Tres Arroyos 1 Rockshelter

Results

Conclusions

Acknowledgments

Hippidion (Mammalia, Perissodactyla) de las cuevas de las provincias de Magallanes y Tierra del Fuego

Anales del Instituto de la Patagonia

Taphonomic and ecologic information from bone weathering

Paleobiology

La extinción de la megafauna en la Patagonia

Anales del Instituto de la Patagonia

La cueva Lago Sofı&#x0301;a 4, Ultima Esperanzauna madriguera felina del Pleistoceno tardı&#x0301;o

Anales del Instituto de la Patagonia (Serie Ciencias Humanas)

Datos para una tafonomı&#x0301;a de restos óseos humanos en Bahı&#x0301;a San Sebastián, Tierra del Fuego

Relaciones de la Sociedad Argentina de Antropologı&#x0301;a

Le site Marassi en Terre de Feu

Rehue

Le site de Marazzi en Terre de Feu

Objets et Mondes

Paleontologı&#x0301;a de mamı&#x0301;feros del Alero Tres Arroyos 1, Tierra del Fuego, XII Región, Chile

Anales del Instituto de la Patagonia (Serie Ciencias Naturales)

Prehistoric Extinctions on Islands and Continents. Extinctions in Near Time

10400 años de colonización humana en Tierra del Fuego

Infórmese

La cueva Lago Sofı́a 4, Ultima Esperanzauna madriguera felina del Pleistoceno tardı́o

Datos para una tafonomı́a de restos óseos humanos en Bahı́a San Sebastián, Tierra del Fuego

Relaciones de la Sociedad Argentina de Antropologı́a

Paleontologı́a de mamı́feros del Alero Tres Arroyos 1, Tierra del Fuego, XII Región, Chile