Abstract

NAVARRO, Tamara. Archaeofaunal analysis of El Panteon 1 site (Las Ovejas, Neuquén). Zaranda ideas [online]. 2016, vol.14, n.1, pp.41-54. ISSN 1853-1296.

Human burials provide information about biological and cultural aspects of populations. The incorporation of animals within these burials may reflect a symbolic relationship between them and humans. The inclusion of horses is referred to in this way in several historical sources from Patagonia, but has previously lacked supporting archaeological evidence. This paper provides such evidence from the site of Panteón 1 near Las Ovejas in northern Neuquén province, Argentina. The aims of this paper is to describe the faunal remains found there in a funerary context and to evaluate hypotheses about horse use. The remains were first classified by size and taxonomic category. Age was also estimated and NISP, MNE, MNI, indices of completeness and fragmentation, and other taphonomic variables calculated. The sample comprises four individuals assignable to Equus ferus, but shows a high degree of fragmentation and is highly incomplete. The skeletal parts found emphasise those giving the highest nutritional yields. This constitutes new evidence supporting horse consumption in ritual contexts of the kind cited in traveller accounts and provides new data and questions about ritual practice as well as dietary resources in northern Patagonia during historical times.

Keywords : Horse; Northern patagonia; Human remains; Post contact.

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