Abstract

CECILIA, Servin Ana; LAURA, Pérez Jimeno  and  SARTORI, Julieta. PRESENCE OF RHEA AMERICANA IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITESLINKED TO THE PARAGUAY AND PARANÁ RIVERS (ARGENTINA). Comechingonia [online]. 2022, vol.26, n.1, pp.51-60. ISSN 1851-0027.

This work evaluates, from a regional perspective, the presence-absence of Rhea americana in 25 late Holocene archaeological sites linked to the riparian environments of the Paraná-Paraguay system (Argentina). Based on the available bibliographic information, a study about her skeletal representation and his relative abundance within the birds’ category were made in order to make regional inferences about its exploitation.The results show that the rhea is poorly represented in the entire area considered, although with greater abundance and anatomical completeness in the area of ​​the Humid Chaco, where it would have had a complementary role in the diet. It also has a certain presence in the sector adjacent to this, in the north of the Alluvial Plain of the Paraná River, while it would have been scarcely exploited in the sector further south, despite the fact that it is a prey that offers full use (i.e. meat, fat, tendons, marrow, bones, nails and feathers). The cut marks registered are associated with the use of marrow, tendons and some bone elements for the fabrication of technofacture. In turn, discrepancies were detected between the archaeological information and the chronicles consulted, which mention the wide use that human groups gave it from before the arrival of Europeans until the 20th century. However, chronologically at the moment, there is no clear pattern that reflects greater-less intensity in use for the final late Holocene period.

Keywords : Rhea Americana Late Holocene Paraná-Paraguay Rivers zooarchaeology.

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