Abstract

MARYANSKI, Juan. Archaeofauna from a domestic space and implications for prehispanic herding in Río Grande de San Juan. Zaranda ideas [online]. 2013, vol.9, n.2, pp.103-117. ISSN 1853-1296.

This paper presents the analysis of an archaeofaunal assemblage recovered at a domestic space from Chipiwayko site (named Complex I). Chipiwayko is an aggregated settlement occupied during late prehispanic times located at Río Grande de San Juan basin (southwestern Potosí, Bolivia). On the basis of this case study, aspects of assemblage formation and their relation with herding activities are explored. Some interpretative problems involved in zooarchaeological studies of domestic spaces are discussed and an approach based on ethnoarchaeological data of modern southandean herders is proposed. Bone discard patterns observed at modern herders main residences are consistent with that of Complex I, suggesting a similar role in the pastoral production chain. Although, these results also indicate that wider patterns of pastoral production in the area operated under different ways than those ethnographically recorded.

Keywords : Zooarchaeology; Camelids; Pastoralism; Domestic space; Late Prehispanic Period.

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