La explotación de moluscos intermareales durante el Holoceno tardío en la localidad de Heshkaia, bahía Moat, sur de Tierra del Fuego

Abstract

This paper examines the archaeomalacological recordof the Heshkaia locality, situated at the eastern mouth of Beagle Channel. Taxonomic identification andbiometric analysis of shells from three Late-Holocene assemblages are performed to assess the incidenceof anthropic and natural forces in the observed trends. Results support a shellfish gathering strategy centeredon suboptimal blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) stripping along the occupational sequence in the locality.It is inferred that the importance of mollusks in human subsistence derived from their abundance andaccessibility, rather than their nutritional contribution. In addition, temporal changes in mean shell sizeof some species cannot be explained by sea surface temperature variations and instead a constant humanharvest pressure scenario is suggested. Although this limited the maximum length mollusks could grow,it did not affect their long-term local reproduction. These results contribute new information on molluskexploitation patterns and allow examination of continuities and differences with previous studies in thesouth coast of Tierra del Fuego.Keywords: Hunter-gatherers; Archaeomalacology; Tierra