Elsevier

Quaternary International

Volume 422, 15 November 2016, Pages 81-92
Quaternary International

Geographic vectors of human mobility in the Andes (34–36° S): Comparative analysis of ‘minor’ obsidian sources

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2015.11.133Get rights and content

Abstract

We have carried out long-term comparative in a wide latitudinal range of the Andes (29°–37° south), encompassing selected areas that differ in ecology and biogeography. This latitudinal span shows diversity in subsistence modes across time and space, ranging from Andean agro-pastoralists in the north to Patagonian hunter-gatherers in the south. As part of this research, a program of geochemical and archaeological characterization of obsidian sources and distributions is being developed, attempting to assess connections between different biogeographical contexts. This work has allowed recognizing five Andean sources with different geological and topographical properties. Stemming from this macro-regional endeavor, in this paper we present a comparative analysis of the human use of two sources that, based on the intensity of human use on a macro-regional scale, can be interpreted as ‘minor’ sources.

This study is framed on GIS least-cost models for human circulation across rugged landscapes allowing access to the sources. We assess temporal and spatial patterns of human occupation of high-altitude Andean deserts and neighboring areas comparing two of obsidian sources: Laguna del Diamante (34° S) and Cerro Huenul (36° S). The results indicate the existence of asymmetric distributions, particularly in the case of Laguna del Diamante. This evidence is used to assess the existence of dominant geographic vectors of human access and use of the Andean highlands. On this basis, we explore the analytical potential of minor sources for the study of human biogeography and organization of technology.

Introduction

Long-term comparative research has been carried out in a wide latitudinal range of the Andes of Argentina (South America) extending from 29° to 37° south, including selected areas that differ in ecological, biogeographical, and archaeological levels (Cortegoso et al., 2014a). This latitudinal span shows diversity in subsistence modes across time and space, ranging from Andean agro-pastoralists in the north to Patagonian hunter-gatherers in the south, in a scenario of divergent cultural trajectories that took place since 2000 years BP. As part of this research, a program of geochemical and archaeological characterization of obsidian sources is being developed, attempting to assess connections between different biogeographical settings (Durán et al., 2012, Cortegoso et al., 2012a). This work has allowed recognizing five Andean sources with different geological and topographical properties (Durán et al., 2004; Giesso et al., 2011). More than two thousand samples have been analyzed so far, with different analytical methods and laboratories, providing a solid basis that allows pursuing comparative research questions. Building on this previous macro-regional work, in this paper we present a comparative analysis of the human use of two Andean obsidian sources that, based on the intensity of human use recorded on a macro-regional scale, can be described as ‘minor’ sources (sensu Shackley, 2009): Laguna del Diamante source at 34° south, located in central Mendoza Province (De Francesco et al., 2006), and Cerro Huenul at 36° south, in northern Neuquén Province of Patagonia (Durán et al., 2004, Barberena et al., 2011).

We present a synthesis of the geochemical and geological characterization of these sources, as well as an assessment of their archaeological record in space and time. On this basis, we evaluate the differential exploitation of these environments and patterns in the dominant geographical vectors of access and distribution of these rocks. This is a means of evaluating the scale of use of the sources, economic modes, and technological strategies of human groups occupying these territories during the Holocene.

We assess spatial and temporal patterns of use of these obsidian sources considering distance and slope in order to build least-cost models of access to the sources that can be compared across regions (Tripcevich, 2007, Rademaker et al., 2012). Finally, we discuss patterns of use, mobility and exchange that involve different societies in both slopes of the Andes throughout the Holocene. On this basis, we explore the analytical potential of minor sources for the study of human biogeography and organization of technology.

Section snippets

Regional setting

In a west–east axis, this large territory extends from the Pacific coast in Chile to the central western Argentinean plains. The region is divided by the Andes mountain range with an average width of 150 km, and heights reaching up to 6900 masl. The eastern plains include several volcanoes reaching heights up to 3810 masl. Precipitation occurs through frontal systems associated with migratory surface cyclones that tend to migrate eastward along rather narrow latitudinal bands known as storm

Materials

We have analyzed 160 archaeological samples assigned to Laguna del Diamante with its two subsources: Laguna del Diamante and Arroyo Paramillos. 82 of these samples come from 23 archaeological sites in Chile and 78 from 8 sites in Argentina (De Francesco et al., 2006; Giesso et al., 2011; Durán et al., 2012, Cortegoso et al., 2012a). On the other hand, regarding Cerro Huenul source, we have characterized 303 archaeological samples from 41 sites located in Argentina (Barberena et al., 2011,

Results

We begin presenting a short assessment of the properties and quality of the obsidian sources, followed by a least cost analysis of human circulation and access to the sources. The first analysis of archaeological distributions is spatial and includes all the samples analyzed. Then, to develop a temporal analysis, we organize the samples in three chronological intervals: 1) 10.000/4000 cal years BP; 2) 4000/2000 cal years BP; 3) 2000/300 cal years BP. Samples lacking chronological context are

Spatial scale and intensity of use of the sources

When information on the sources analyzed here is visualized in the context of the data for all the available sources in the macro-region (Durán et al., 2004, De Francesco et al., 2006; Giesso et al., 2011; Durán et al., 2012, Cortegoso et al., 2012a), it is evident that other sources were used much more in terms of intensity and spatial scale of transport in both watersheds of the Andes. This is the case of Las Cargas source in the northern region (34° S), compared to Laguna del Diamante, and

Conclusions: what can minor obsidian sources teach us about human biogeography?

We have presented the case of two obsidian sources located in the highlands (Laguna del Diamante) and lowlands (Cerro Huenul) of central-western Argentina. This analysis has allowed us to consider three main issues in a preliminary manner: a) biogeographical context of the sources and intensity of use and transport, b) existence of dominant geographic vectors of access and exploitation, c) temporal patterns of use since the Pleistocene–Holocene transition, and possible relations to

Acknowledgments

This paper was enriched from discussions at the 4th Southern Deserts Conference held in 2014 in Mendoza, Argentina. We acknowledge financial support from CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (4540/2013), and the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (PICT 2014-0940). We are grateful to Martín Giesso, Mike D. Glascock, and Lorena Sanhueza for their help and insightful contributions. Two reviewers provided insightful suggestions that improved this paper significantly.

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