Abstract

LLANO, Carina  and  CORTEGOSO, Valeria. Assessment of intensification strategies in the plant record from Alero Los Conitos Site, Mendoza, Argentina. Comechingonia [online]. 2015, vol.19, n.2, pp.185-202. ISSN 1851-0027.

Variable exploitation of wild and domestic plants during the late Holocene is discussed from archaeobotanical analysis of Alero Los Conitos, Potrerillos Valley, Mendoza. Considering the evaluation of botanical remains changes, both in frequency and intensity, the relevance and accuracy of different intensification strategies explaining the peculiarities of the economic diversification process in the southern boundary of the Andean agricultural development is assessed. The method used for the recovery of botanical remains was dry screening. In order to test intensification strategies a series of indicators: intensification, specialization, diversification and expansion. The results showed that 23% of the sample consisted of domesticated species. Three moments in the organization of the practice related to strategies that denote intensification situations are established. Intensification is complex and variable; we suggest that unfolding their particular strategies may contribute to better understanding of their not necessarily linear stages process.

Keywords : Hunter-gatherers; Archaeobotany; Economic strategies; North of Mendoza.