Abstract

RESTIFO, Federico  and  PATANE ARAOZ, Claudio Javier. SALADILLO ARTIFACTS FROM THE PUNA OF SALTA PROVINCE (ARGENTINA): INTERPRETATION OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE AT THE END OF MIDDLE HOLOCENE FROM MACROSCOPIC FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION. Relaciones [online]. 2017, vol.42, n.1, pp.1-10. ISSN 0325-2221.

Lithic artifacts known as saladillo are mentioned in the archeology of the Argentinian Puna from the early twentieth century. since then, they were repeatedly presented as projectile points. However, in some works such as those of Jorge Fernández the presence of retouched cutting edges was recognized, but they were not analyzed in detail. In this paper we consider that the analysis of those edges in such artifacts lead to discuss their exclusive classification as projectile points. To this end, three samples obtained at different places in the Puna of salta were analyzed. The results from the analysis of macroscopic attributes suggest that these artifacts should be classifed as scrapers or knives. From the point of view of this classification it is hypothesized that saladillo artifacts refect a standardization of processing technology, linked to the intensification in the exploitation of camelids that occurred by the end of the middle Holocene.

Keywords : lithic technology - middle Holocene - Puna - intensification - camelids.

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