Abstract

HAMMOND, Heidi  and  ZILIO, Leandro. EXPERIMENTATION PROCESS OF HARVESTING OF MARINE MOLLUSCS IN PATAGONIAN COAST: ANALYSIS OF NACELLA MAGELLANICA SPECIES AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE INTERPRETATION OF ARCHAEOMALACOLOGICAL SAMPLES. Comechingonia [online]. 2016, vol.20, n.2, pp.1-10. ISSN 1851-0027.

In different shell middens located in the Northern Coast of Santa Cruz (CNSC) calcareous mollusc exoskeletons of Nacella magellanica (Patellidae, Gasteropoda) were identified. This species was used as food by past hunter-gatherer populations. A variable percentage between archaeomalacological samples of Nacella magellanica presents evidence of breakage and/or signs of impact. It is hypothesized that these features or modifications are the result of harvest activities of molluscs of genus Nacella and the use of specific instruments by human groups. For that an experimental program was developed, and characteristics, morphology and location of modifications in calcareous exoskeletons of the species considered were analyzed. Afterwards a comparative study between samples obtained experimentally and those recovered from systematic excavations in shell middens was performed. We interpret that the breakages and evidence of impact on archaeomalacological assemblages would be the consequence of the application of blows with the use of instruments during the collection process of Nacella magellanica gastropod, to generate its detachment from the hard substrate to which lives adhered. The value of experimental studies for understanding different kinds of archaeological materials and the formation agents of the record is highlighted.

Keywords : Arqueología Experimental, Arqueomalacología, concheros, exoesqueletos calcáreos, artefactos líticos; Experimental Archaeology, Archaeomalacology, shell middens, calcareous exoskeletons, lithic artifacts.