Explotación de obsidianas en la meseta central de Santa Cruz. Estrategias de producción, uso y circulación

Abstract

espanolResumen: En este trabajo examinamos las estrategias de aprovisionamiento, explotacion, circulacion y consumo de la obsidiana hallada en sitios de las localidades arqueologicas La Maria y Cerro Tres Tetas (Meseta Central de Santa Cruz, Argentina). Llevamos a cabo el analisis tecnomorfologico, funcional y geoquimico de los restos de esta materia prima. Los resultados indican que la obsidiana procede de Pampa del Asador, fuente distante a mas de 125 km. Se registro un aumento de la explotacion de esta materia prima a traves del tiempo, identificandose dos grandes momentos. Durante el Pleistoceno Final/Holoceno Temprano, la misma no habria jugado un rol relevante en la organizacion tecnologica. Las secuencias de produccion se caracterizan por el ingreso a los sitios de artefactos probablemente ya manufacturados. Durante el Holoceno Medio y Tardio se habrian ingresado a las localidades nodulos y/o nucleos. Las estrategias involucradas en su manufactura concuerdan en general con las implementadas para litologias locales y no exponen elementos que indiquen una mayor valorizacion de la obsidiana. No es posible asociar la gestion de esta roca a una estrategia de explotacion eventual. Consideramos que la materia prima se obtenia en el marco de circuitos de movilidad y contactos intergrupales. EnglishAbstract: In this paper, we examine the strategies of supply, exploitation, circulation and consumption of the obsidian found in sites from the archaeological localities of La Maria and Cerro Tres Tetas (Central Plateau of Santa Cruz province, Argentina). Technomorphologic, functional and geochemical analyses of the obsidian remains from these localities were carried out. Results show that obsidian comes from Pampa del Asador a source located over 125 km from the sites. Two chronological moments in the exploitation of this raw material were identified with an increase in consumption over time. During the Final Pleistocene/Early Holocene, obsidian was not a significant resource in the technological organization. Production sequences indicate that tools may have arrived already manufactured to the sites. In contrast, in the Middle and Late Holocene, cores and/or nodules were brought to the localities. Production strategies are similar to the ones recorded for local raw materials. There is no evidence to indicate that obsidian was a more valued resource than local rocks. We cannot ascertain that obsidian acquisition was part of a sporadic exploitation strategy from the source region. We believe that this raw material was obtained in mobility circuits and from intergroup contact.