Abstract

GRANT, Jennifer. Isótopos estables en camélidos y vegetales modernos de Antofagasta de la Sierra: hacia una ecología isotópica de la Puna Meridional argentina. Intersecciones antropol. [online]. 2016, vol.17, n.3, pp.327-339. ISSN 1850-373X.

This article presents the first results obtained within the framework of a research project focused on the development of an isotopic ecology of the Southern Argentine Puna. In turn, this isotopic ecology study will provide a valuable reference tool for the interpretation of archaeological data. Here we present 34 pairs of ä13C and ä15N values taken from modern camelid bone collagen (Vicugna vicugna and Lama glama) and 28 pairs ä13C and ä15N values taken from pastures consumed by these animals across the different plant units of Antofagasta de la Sierra (Catamarca, Argentina). The results thus obtained show the existence of habitats with different isotope footprints, based primarily on the different altitudinal floors existing in the study area. The contrasts observed in the plants across the different altitudinal floors are reflected in the difference in ä13C and ä15N values of camelids, especially among the wild ones. In the case of domesticated animals, the modern practice of complementing the diet of the herd with alfalfa (Medicago sativa), a C3 plant, resulted in more negative than expected values.

Keywords : Isotopic ecology; Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes; Camelids; Plants; Southern Argentine Puna.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )