Abstract

LOPEZ, Gabriel E. J.. Archaeofaunal study of a dump, an enclosure, and an inter-enclosure sector in Matancillas 2 site, Puna of Salta (Argentina). Intersecciones antropol. [online]. 2006, n.7, pp.207-216. ISSN 1850-373X.

The present work analyzes three archaeofaunal assemblages from the Matancillas 2 site (Puna de Salta). They come from a dump, an enclosure, and an inter-enclosure sector. The objective is to obtain information about the consumption of faunal resources in the human population of the Early Period (ca. 2000 BP). Their degree of integrity was also determined, which gave differential information for each assemblage. The evidence shows the principal role of human agency in the formation and modification of the assemblages, which demonstrate with certainty activities related to consumption, especially in relation to camelid specimens that are the majority in the samples. These artiodactyls were fully processed, as almost every skeletal part was found; the elevated presence of phalanx and tarsus bones is probably related to their very low fragmentation index. Finally, it is emphasized that taxonomic diversity is very low and that camelids (both domesticated and wild) were the main faunal resource for this population of the Early Period in the Puna.

Keywords : Archaeofaunal assemblages; Puna of Salta; Units of analysis.

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