María Teresa Civalero | Universidad de Buenos Aires (original) (raw)

Papers by María Teresa Civalero

Archaeological Discovery, 2017

The early Holocene archaeological record in Northwest Santa Cruz province in southern Argentina i... more The early Holocene archaeological record in Northwest Santa Cruz province in southern Argentina is remarkable in its richness. Among the lithic remains, most notable is a stemless triangular projectile point dating to ~8.5-10 uncalibrated kya. As part of a long term program directed to explore and understand diverse aspects of lithic technologies from Patagonia, this paper reports new observations on a set of notable unifacial tools existing in the assemblage accompanying them. Based on archaeological and experimental data we hypothesize they were produced from thick flake-blanks with one face totally or partially covered by flake scars sometimes reaching the longitudinal symmetry axis. This fact suggests that before being finished, it was reduced by detaching flakes from the edge to its center. This recent technological discovery allowed deepened on a new regional issue related with early Holocene unifacial tools that emerge as a peculiar style of covering unifacial flaking with subtle production differences to other similar implements. Together with the triangular points, this particular way of preforming the tool before and/or during the final shaping might be another distinctive manufacturing technique used by early Holocene hunter-gatherers in the area.

Se presenta una propuesta que explora si las variaciones observadas en la tecnología lítica, el a... more Se presenta una propuesta que explora si las variaciones observadas en la tecnología lítica, el arte rupestre y la subsistencia (ca. 7000 años AP) se dan en el marco de procesos de cambio a nivel regional en el noroeste de Santa Cruz y áreas aledañas. Nuestra propuesta es avanzar en el establecimiento de la cronología de ocupación de los sectores noreste del lago Pueyrredón, laguna Cisnes/Cerro Bayo, curso medio de río Pinturas y borde oriental de la meseta del lago Buenos Aires. Para abordar esta cuestión consideramos encontrar evidencias de tefra de la erupción del volcán Hudson ocurrida ca. 6800 años AP; estratificada en algunos de los sitios a sondear en río Pinturas medio (Piedra Bonita, el Puma 1, 3, 5), Cerro Bayo 2 y Cisnes 9 en zona de laguna Cisnes. Ello permitirá dataciones comparables a las de Cueva Milodón Norte 1 donde la ceniza de esa erupción del Hudson está estratificada entre las capas 5base (ca. 5500 años AP) y 7 (ca. 7800 años AP) y donde la tecnología lítica pre y post tefra presenta una clara diferencia estilística y de uso de materias primas. Proceso similar al que se observa en las diferencias estilísticas del arte rupestre.

Revista del Museo de Antropología, 2020

En el registro arqueológico del Holoceno temprano del noroeste de la provincia de Santa Cruz se i... more En el registro arqueológico del Holoceno temprano del noroeste de la provincia de Santa Cruz se identificó una modalidad peculiar de manufactura de instrumentos líticos unifaciales. En su secuencia de reducción las formas-bases se preformaron con lascados unifaciales-parcial o totalmente extendidos- y se las finalizaba con retoques escamosos cuya profundidad normalmente no excede los ~10 mm. Con el propósito de profundizar en el conocimiento de su manufactura se efectuaron experimentos replicativos y análisis diacríticos de los especímenes experimentales y arqueológicos. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que los lascados total o parcialmente extendidos corresponden a una acción preconcebida y deliberada tendiente a la formatización del soporte y no son accidentales ni resultan de las reactivaciones. Así, se refuerza la posición de que esta manera de confeccionar utensilios correspondería a un estilo técnico compartido por las ocupaciones del Holoceno temprano en la Patagonia centro-...

VII Jornadas Nacionales de Antropología Biológica, 2005

El objetivo del trabajo fue conocer algunas de las parasitosis que existían en América precolombi... more El objetivo del trabajo fue conocer algunas de las parasitosis que existían en América precolombina y discutir diversos aspectos ecológico-culturales. El coprolito examinado provino del sitio Cerro Casa de Piedra 5 (CCP5), Parque Nacional Perito Moreno, Santa Cruz, Argentina. Las muestras fueron rehidratadas con fosfato trisódico acuoso y procesadas por sedimentación espontánea. Existieron dificultades para la determinación del origen zoológico del coprolito-cánido o humano-y el análisis de los restos macroscópicos y pelos presentes resultó decisivo. Los resultados evidenciaron un caso de poliparasitismo entre los que se hallaron huevos correspondientes al género Trichuris y a especies del género Capillaria. Otros hallazgos corresponden a huevos atribuibles a ascarididos, eucestodes y ooquistes de coccidios. Se hallaron huevos que no pudieron determinarse si correspondían a ácaros o pentastómidos. La muestra analizada ha aportado información inédita sobre el parasitismo en Patagonia Austral precolombina. Se discute su significado bioantropológico. Los resultados presentados permiten demostrar el valor de la recuperación de coprolitos y sedimentos arqueológicos.Asociación de Antropología Biológica de la República Argentin

Andes, 2016

Fil: Sacchi, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas; Argentina. Secr... more Fil: Sacchi, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas; Argentina. Secretaria de Cultura de la Nacion. Direccion Nacional de Cultura y Museos. Instituto Nacional de Antropologia y Pensamiento Latinoamericano; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentina

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2018

The climatic changes that occurred during the late Pleistocene-early Holocene in Patagonia genera... more The climatic changes that occurred during the late Pleistocene-early Holocene in Patagonia generated a glacial retreat, which brought along with it the formation of proglacial lakes (in contact with ice) and periglacial lakes (in areas close to the glaciers). The bathymetric fluctuations of lacustrine systems throughout time have favored new areas available for population circulation and settlement. Our results showed the influence of ice masses on the palaeoenvironmental evolution with alternating glacial and proglacial environments: tillites, glacilacustrine/ lacustrine environments, glacifluvial/ fluvial environments, alluvial fans, and deltaic bodies. An initial diachronism was recorded in the formation of the paleolakes; the Lacustrine System Parque Nacional Perito Moreno (SL-PNPM) would have begun to form first, and then the Lacustrine System Pueyrredón-Posadas-Salitroso (SL-PPS). Between 12 and 11.7 kyr, in both sectors, the paleolakes would have reached their maximum areal extension. After 10 kyr, a regression and separation of the lacustrine systems until the acquisition of its current configuration was interpreted. This data coincides with archaeological sites located at lower elevations, closer to the current level of the coastline, both in the SL-PPS and the SL-PNPM areas. The palaeoenvironmental information indicated a synchrony in both areas in the evolution of the floristic landscape. The separation of lacustrine systems generated new available spaces and ecological niches for the establishment of vegetation which encouraged a greater heterogeneity in vegetation that could have been exploited by hunter-gatherer groups.

Journal of Parasitology, 2006

In this note, organic remains identified as a canid coprolite were examined. The material was dat... more In this note, organic remains identified as a canid coprolite were examined. The material was dated at 6540 +/- 110 B.P.; it was collected in the Perito Moreno National Park, Santa Cruz, Argentina. Paleoparasitological analysis was performed following standard procedures. Coprolite fragments were rehydrated in a trisodium phosphate aqueous solution and subjected to spontaneous sedimentation for microscope analysis. Eggs of nematodes identified as Trichuris sp., Capillaria sp., Uncinaria sp., and an ascaridid (probably Toxascaris sp.) or spirurids (presumably Physaloptera sp.), plus a cestode (Anoplocephalidae), presumably Moniezia sp., were found.

Environmental Archaeology, 2021

The objective of this work is to reconstruct production sequences and use of woody raw materials ... more The objective of this work is to reconstruct production sequences and use of woody raw materials among Patagonian hunter-gatherer groups. To this end, we studied small fragments of non-carbonized wood, pieces of wood with distinct types of technological features and formatized artefacts and/or wooden tools from two archaeological sites in south-central Argentine Patagonia. The taxonomic results showed the recurrent use of two taxa, Nothofagus pumilio and Berberis sp., among distinct occupations corresponding to both the early and late Holocene. The morphological and traceological results demonstrate the implementation of different technical operations such as the debarking and the roughing of the wood, as well as bevelled and perimeter cuts. They also show the recurrent presence of certain technological features and traces in woods and artefacts associated with distinct occupations in the Holocene. To sum up, the results reached reaffirm the existence of a selective practice of woody plant species to be used as raw material, and at the same time, the results reveal the existence of a sustained formatization over time and suggest the existence of production sequences related to the development of wood technology among Patagonian hunter-gatherer groups.Fil: Caruso, Laura Lihue. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto Patagónico de Ciencias Sociales y Humanas; ArgentinaFil: Civalero, Maria Teresa. Secretaría de Cultura de la Nación. Dirección Nacional de Cultura y Museos. Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Pensamiento Latinoamericano; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Aschero, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Estudios Sociales. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Estudios Sociales; Argentin

The Holocene, 2019

Use of fire has been recognized for a long time as a key innovation in the development of human g... more Use of fire has been recognized for a long time as a key innovation in the development of human groups, as a multisource technological improvement. Fuel wastes recovered from archeological sites are the direct evidence of the fire use in society economies of the past. In the process of production and use of fire, diverse parameters exist that intervene and influence in its development. In order to obtain data relative to vegetal composition from early to late Holocene and its exploitation by societies characterized by high residential mobility, we carried on an charcoal and wood analysis in archeological sites Cerro Casa de Piedra 7 (10,690 ± 120-3400 BP) and Cerro Casa de Piedra 5 (6780 ± 110-2805 ± 105 BP) (province of Santa Cruz, Argentina). The results obtained evidence a drastic reduction of taxa used as fuel among occupations corresponding to early Holocene and late Holocene. Throughout all the levels we verified the intense use of tree species for combustion, while bushes wer...

The Holocene, 2014

This paper studies the different practices employed in the acquisition of woody material used by ... more This paper studies the different practices employed in the acquisition of woody material used by hunter–gatherer societies from the northwestern region of the Santa Cruz Province, Argentine Patagonia, during the early and middle Holocene. In addressing this theme, we study carbonized and non-carbonized wood recovered from six stratigraphic levels from the Cerro Casa de Piedra 7 site. This research revealed that during the lowest level of occupation, a distinct range of woody species were utilized; these were subsequently absent in the rest of the stratigraphical levels studied. In fact, all the other levels analyzed presented the homogeneous presence of a single plant species: Nothofagus pumilio. This species has the largest representation among both the charcoal and uncharred wood fragments of the six levels studied. The study of the assemblage samples allowed us to identify differences between the various archaeological levels, which could be the product of behavioral and/or envir...

Quaternary International, 2003

This paper discusses basic tendencies in the characteristics of the early archaeological record c... more This paper discusses basic tendencies in the characteristics of the early archaeological record corresponding to human occupation near the eastern flank of the Andean range, at the southern end of South America. Lithic artifacts are analyzed within an organization of technology perspective and are discussed according to Borrero's ecological model of the peopling of Patagonia. The characteristics of the lithic artifacts along with raw material provenience at the oldest levels at sites Cerro Casa de Piedra 7 and Chorrillo Malo 2, match our expectations for an exploration or early colonization phase in the peopling of the space. In addition, the range of variation of tools is similar to that present at early sites located to the east of the area. Some differences at these sites are already evident. Among these are the higher tool deposition rates at sites located close to Pampa del Asador, a known source of black obsidian that was used by early inhabitants of Patagonia. This poses some new questions that should be addressed regionally, taking into account the regional availability of lithic resources.

Revista del Museo de Antropología, Apr 3, 2020

Este trabajo se centra en la discusión del proceso de poblamiento de la cuenca de los lagos Pueyr... more Este trabajo se centra en la discusión del proceso de poblamiento de la cuenca de los lagos Pueyrredón-Posadas-Salitroso (noroeste de Santa Cruz) sobre la base de la información obtenida en los últimos años y la presentación de nuevos fechados. Se relacionan las ocupaciones arqueológicas de la costa noreste del lago Pueyrredón con las dataciones vinculadas a la paleogeografía de la cuenca. Se analiza también la relevancia de los fechados presentados en una escala espacial más amplia, a nivel regional. Finalmente, se aborda la relación entre las variaciones de los niveles lacustres y la circulación humana teniendo en cuenta las evidencias recuperadas en los sitios emplazados en cotas superiores a los 300 mts, con cronologías correspondientes al Holoceno medio y tardío. Los resultados alcanzados confirman las expectativas planteadas por el modelo paleogeográfico; no obstante, los cambios observados en el paisaje a lo largo del Holoceno no parecen haber afectado la dinámica de la circu...

ABSTRACT In the Patagonian archaeological record, the preservation of wooden artefacts is very re... more ABSTRACT In the Patagonian archaeological record, the preservation of wooden artefacts is very restricted. Functional analysis of lithic artefacts is a way to get a better understanding of the use and consumption of vegetative/plant resources. However, although the study of artefacts used during wood processing offer good indications of the use of wood itself as the raw material, such analysis does not enable to identify the technological processes applied to the wood. Therefore, technical and functional analyses are a way to approach the production processes of wooden artefacts and objects. The use-wear study presented here consists of the analysis of traces preserved on the surface of a wooden artefact retrieved from layer 6 (5.310±11 BP) at the site of Cerra Casa de Piedra 7 (province of Santa Cruz, Patagonia, Argentina). The interpretation of this piece is hampered by the absence of ethnographical references and the lack of similar archaeological finds attributed to contexts of Patagonian hunter-gatherers. However, through the observation of the various traces, it is possible to identify in which way and with which instruments this piece of wood was made.

Se trabaja en el estudio de la organizacion de la tecnologia litica que puede observarse en el si... more Se trabaja en el estudio de la organizacion de la tecnologia litica que puede observarse en el sitio Cerro Casa de Piedra 7 (CCP7), ubicado en el Parque Nacional Perito Moreno, provincia de Santa Cruz. Se discuten las tendencias en el comportamiento de instrumental litico en el lapso comprendido entre 3400 y 4200 AP, en relacion con dos modelos de asentamiento diferentes que fueron propuestos para el area de investigacion.

En artículos previos se enfatizó la interpretación aislada del material lítico y óseo de los siti... more En artículos previos se enfatizó la interpretación aislada del material lítico y óseo de los sitios arqueológicos. Es por ello que nuestro principal interés es explorar las relaciones que pudieron '!aber existido entre la explotación de lafauna y la organización tecnológica lítica en el Holo ceno 'emprano, centrándonos en el sitio Cerro Casa de Piedra Cueva 7 único sitio con fe chados ;empranos en el área bajo estudio. Los resultados alcanzados sugieren que para el bloque 'empo ralfechado entre ca. 9.700-8.900 años AP. se incorporan nuevas presas a las usualmente aprovechadas por las sociedades cazadoras que podrían considerarse oportunísticas. Por otra parte, los datos provenientes de los materiales líticos muestran diseños versátiles en la conformación de los conjuntos confeccionados sobre materias primas lejanas al sitio, con núcleos reciclados que sugieren una estrategia de cuidado del instrumental. Ambas evidencias apuntan 'racia grupos humanos ingresando o asentándose en áreas poco conocidas.

Learning about past biological interactions is possible thanks to the study of trace fossils, suc... more Learning about past biological interactions is possible thanks to the study of trace fossils, such as coprolites found in archaeological sites. The multiproxy analysis of coprolites may provide evidence of direct and indirect consumption of diet items and thus reconstructing the ecological dynamics of past ecosystems. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis of the content of plant fragments, pollen and silica phytoliths in coprolites found in the archaeological site Cerro Casa de Piedra 5 (47°57′S; 72°05′W), located in the Perito Moreno National Park, Santa Cruz, Argentina, in an archaeological layer dated to 6540 ± 110 years 14C BP (7402 cal years BP), with the aim to recognize dietary habits in those times. According to their morphological features and content, the coprolites were assigned to omnivores (humans/canids) and herbivores (camelids). The multiproxy analysis of these coprolites allowed us to reach a higher taxonomic resolution in the identification of some pla...