Isótopos estables de carbono y nitrógeno en roedores chinchíllidos de contextos arqueológicos del Holoceno Temprano y Medio en la Puna Salada

Abstract

In this paper, carbon and nitrogen isotopic values obtained on rodents of the Chin- chillidae family are presented. These specimens come from archaeological levels of site Que- brada Seca 3 (QS3, Antofagasta de la Sierra, Catamarca Province, Argentina) in the Salty Puna, which are dated back to the Early and Middle Holocene. They are four specimens derived from levels dated between c. 9800-7800 BP. The results indicate that carbon mid isotopic relationship (?13C) is -19.7‰, ± 0.2, and that of nitrogen (?15N) is 4.6‰ ± 0.7. C/N relationship is 3.3-3.5. These results suggest that the chinchillid isotopic values fall within the range of that of camelids, main item in the diet of the hunter-gatherers inhabiting the area at the time. According to the archaeofaunal record, chinchillid rodents would also have been consumed, although to a lesser extent, and in this context their isotopic signature would look greatly diluted.