Mariano Bonomo | Universidad Nacional de La Plata (original) (raw)

Books by Mariano Bonomo

Springer-Nature, 2021

The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this p... more The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.

Edulp, Editorial de la Universidad de la Plata, UNLP, La Plata., 2019

Papers by Mariano Bonomo

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2024

The aim of this paper is to advance the understanding of the technological processes behind pre-H... more The aim of this paper is to advance the understanding of the technological processes behind pre-Hispanic ceramic production in the Lower Paraná River (Argentina) through the application of Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI). This computational stereo-photometric method allows the surface relief of objects to be recorded under different illumination directions. In this way, details such as cracks, changes in relief and small holes that are not visible by direct observation or standard photography can be revealed. This technique was applied to two ceramic objects recovered from the archaeological sites Cerro de las Pajas Blancas 1 and La Calavera (San Jerónimo department, Santa Fe province). From the first site, a motif made using the drag and jab technique was analyzed, and from the second site, a piece exhibiting a net imprint on its interior was studied. It is proposed, on the one hand, that RTI provides more information than standard digital photography for the documentation and analysis of different techniques applied to ceramic surfaces. On the other hand, RTI continues to demonstrate its value as a tool for studying archaeological artefacts, as it is effective, non-invasive, cost-efficient, and creates a permanent interactive record without the need for physical manipulation of the artefact.

Comechingonia

El Túmulo de Malacara fue localizado en 1913 por Luis María Torres y Carlos Ameghino en la costa ... more El Túmulo de Malacara fue localizado en 1913 por Luis María Torres y Carlos Ameghino en la costa atlántica bonaerense. En este artículo se reestudia la colección bioantropológica y arqueológica de este sitio emblemático de la arqueología pampeana para conocer los modos
de vida de las sociedades indígenas de la región durante el Holoceno tardío. Se analizan los huesos humanos de al menos 13 individuos y los sedimentos de esos entierros, junto con 57 cuentas sobre exoesqueletos de moluscos y 104 artefactos líticos que se encuentran depositados en el Museo de La Plata. Además, se presentan tres nuevas dataciones radiocarbónicas de entre 2550 y 2750 años 14C AP y 26 señales sotópicas de δ13Ccol, δ13Cap y δ15N que evidencian un mayor consumo de plantas de tipo C3 o de herbívoros terrestres consumidores de esas plantas. Para este estudio integral además se contextualizan los
trabajos de principios del siglo XX con documentación de archivo. En conjunto con el análisis de la colección y de fotografías históricas, se revisaron imágenes satelitales y de vuelos de dron y se realizaron nuevos trabajos de campo entre la margen derecha del arroyo La Malacara y las dunas móviles próximas al mar. Estas tareas permitieron localizar una
anomalía geomorfológica en forma de anillo con un montículo central en donde se hallaron artefactos líticos que podría corresponder a los remanentes de la excavación de este sitio localizado hace 110 años.

Revista del Museo de Antropología , 2024

En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de los análisis antracológicos efectuados en el sitio... more En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de los análisis antracológicos efectuados en el sitio arqueológico Cerro de las Pajas Blancas 1 (CDLPB1). CDLPB1 es un sitio clásico dentro de la literatura del NEA tradicionalmente caracterizado como un asentamiento Guaraní, pero que recientes excavaciones muestran una clara ocupación asociada a la entidad arqueológica Goya-Malabrigo. En el marco de estos últimos trabajos, se efectuaron estudios antracológicos sobre la totalidad de maderas carbonizadas recuperadas en el sitio. Para la identificación, se elaboró la primera clave identificatoria del área, y la interpretación incluyó aproximaciones cuantitativas y cualitativas. Se identificaron 22 taxones. Los resultados indican una importante frecuencia de algarrobo (Neltuma sp.) y espinillo (Vachellia sp.) que podrían haber sido utilizados como combustible para la cocción de alfarería y/o de alimentos y para obtener luz y calor. Otras maderas blandas con frecuencias menores (Salix sp. -sauce, Enterolobium sp. -timbó-, Nectandra sp. -laurel, Myrsine sp. -canelón, Erythrina sp. -seibo-) podrían haber sido recolectadas para la fabricación de artefactos y como avivadoras o iniciadoras de fuegos. A su vez, la presencia de especímenes no-locales como Schinopsis sp. (quebracho) refuerza la idea de una circulación e intercambio de objetos con poblaciones humanas del Centro-Norte argentino en tiempos prehispánicos.

The Oxford Handbook of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 2024

Indigenous coastal communities in the Pacific, Caribbean, Atlantic, and Patagonian regions of Sou... more Indigenous coastal communities in the Pacific, Caribbean, Atlantic, and Patagonian regions of South America sustainably shed, harvested shell sh and other marine species, and hunted sea lions for millennia. Considerable variation exists in the types of coastal archaeological sites found in these regions, ranging from small to large shell middens and shell rings to sedentary maritime villages to massive sambaqui (mortuary mounds). The authors summarize the environmental setting, chronology, and type of coastal and inland sites, and their function and meaning, extending from the western Paci c coast of Colombia to the Caribbean shores and the eastern Atlantic areas of Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, as well as the southwest Paci c coastlines of Tierra del Fuego and Chile. They present information that early peoples exploited several of these areas by at least 8000 years ago after sea levels and shorelines stabilized, with complex social and economic institutions appearing after about 5000-4000 years ago. In late Holocene and colonial times, several of these areas were inhabited by sedentary peoples moving around seasonally and using an array of littoral and inland habitats.

Archaeometry, 2024

This research delves into ancient pigment practices among the Goya-Malabrigo societies in the Upp... more This research delves into ancient pigment practices among the Goya-Malabrigo societies in the Upper Delta of the Paran
a River during the Late Holocene. Utilising Raman microspectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, we analysed 33 samples from six archaeological sites and four natural outcrops. Our discoveries uncovered hematite in red pigments across diverse materials (potsherds, shells, human bones, and sediments), anatase adorning ceramics with whitish tones, and charcoal creating darker shades. These findings not only contribute to the understanding of the mineral composition of ancient colours used by Indigenous people in
domestic and funerary contexts but also set the first stage for forthcoming provenance research, integrating multiple archaeometric techniques to unravel the origins of these compelling pigments.

Scientific collections on the move. Provincial museums, archives, and collecting practices (1800–1950), 2024

My case study centres on the provenance of the French archaeological collections of Florentino Am... more My case study centres on the provenance of the French archaeological collections of Florentino Ameghino (1853-1911), currently housed at the Museo de La Plata in Argentina. The collection primarily consists of lithic materials, alongside casts, bones, and pottery from the Lower, Middle, and Upper Paleolithic, Neolithic, and Bronze periods of France and Belgium. The study aims to elucidate how Ameghino obtained his European collection through fieldwork, purchases, or exchanges with amateurs and specialists in European Prehistory. This research is part of the SciCoMove project, funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie (grant agreement No 101007579).

Revista del Museo de Antropología , 2023

La División Arqueología es uno de los pilares del Museo de La Plata (MLP) desde sus inicios en 18... more La División Arqueología es uno de los pilares del Museo de La Plata (MLP) desde sus inicios en 1884. La colección fundacional del Museo estuvo integrada en su mayoría por objetos antropológicos y arqueológicos que fueron donados por su creador Francisco Pascasio Moreno (1852-1919). A Moreno le sucedieron en la dirección del Museo Samuel Lafone Quevedo (1835-1920) y Luis María Torres (1878-1937), quienes dedicaron gran parte de su vida De lo analógico a la digitalización de las colecciones de la División Arqueología del Museo de La Plata (Argentina)

Heritage, 2023

Florentino Ameghino’s works were fundamental for archeology in Argentina. His first collections w... more Florentino Ameghino’s works were fundamental for archeology in Argentina. His first collections were shown in the book La antigüedad del hombre en el Plata {Antiquity of Man in the La Plata Basin} (1880–1881), a synthesis of the previous prehistoric studies whose purpose was arguing in favor of an ancient antiquity of the human occupation in the Argentine Pampas, which granted his archeological investigations international recognition. In this article, we present the first results of a comprehensive study on the aforementioned collection, which is currently in the Archeology Division of the La Plata Museum. We identified the pieces based on the published images, we analyzed the lithic and ceramic artifacts and bone remains, and we contextualized the information on the archeological sites from which they came. We recognized the importance of the collection for this investigation and for its conservation, acknowledging work practices related to the identification, classification and communication processes of the materials in the early days of this discipline. The revision of this museum collection shows the constructive nature of the cultural heritage, reflecting on the subjects, wisdoms, and actions that take part in their furtherance throughout time.

Boletim do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Ciências Humanas, 2022

In Argentinean Northeast archaeology, few studies address the firing procedures of pre-Hispanic ... more In Argentinean Northeast archaeology, few studies address the firing procedures of pre-Hispanic pottery making. Until now, no physical chemical techniques have been applied to measure the transformations suffered by ceramics during firing. In order to modify this situation, we applied X-ray diffraction, differential thermal and thermogravimetric analysis, and thermal expansion on 31 archaeological ceramic samples recovered at the Los Tres Cerros 1 and Cerro Tapera Vázquez sites (Upper Delta of the Paraná River). Most of the samples (i.e., vessels with a restricted and unrestricted mouth, ‘campanas’ and ‘spoon’) were firing at temperatures above 550/650ºC and below 800ºC; four did not exceed
550/650ºC, and two were subjected to temperatures above 800/900ºC. These results, joined with ethnoarchaeological, experimental, and archaeological evidence, allowed us to read into the wide range of firing temperatures detected (< 550ºC and > 800ºC) as indicative of firing in open structures (i.e., bonfires or pits). In addition, this data allowed us to
discuss different firing conditions hypotheses proposed in previous research and to develop an experimental program that will allow us to know different aspects of the pre-Hispanic firing procedures.

Springer-Nature, 2021

In this chapter, the economic and symbolic relations between animals and pre-Hispanic indigenous ... more In this chapter, the economic and symbolic relations between animals and pre-Hispanic indigenous people from the Middle and Lower Paraná River of Argentina, South America are discussed. This issue is approached throughout the analyses of pottery zoomorphic appendages, which represent birds, mammals, reptiles and mollusks, and are assigned to the Goya-Malabrigo archaeological entity (~2000 14 C yrs BP to seventeenth century). These appendages have realistic morphological details that allowed taxonomic identification at class, order, family, genus or species level. These pottery representations of the animals are contrasted with the faunal remains from the Goya-Malabrigo archaeological sites. The combination of these different information sources shows that the preys that were regularly eaten were not depicted in the appendages, and that the nutritional role of animals was not favored in these representations. The present study allows a discussion about the human-animal interrelation, which in turn contributes to global theoretical approaches, related to the humanization of nature.

Journal of Island & Coastal Archaeology, 2023

In the La Plata Basin, indigenous populations used canoes for colonizing islands, moving people, ... more In the La Plata Basin, indigenous populations used canoes for colonizing islands, moving people, fishing, transporting loads, and warfare. According to sixteenth century chronicles, dugout canoes were large, up to 24 m in length, and had a capacity for 40 people. In this paper, four dugout canoes recovered in La Plata River, and in the Paran a Delta, are studied. Their context of discovery, dimensions, radiocarbon dating, and the wood taxonomic identification are presented. Canoes were vital for the riverine populations that inhabited the study area since at least two thousand years ago but constitute a rare record given the low likelihood of preservation. The studied canoes measure between 10-8 m in length and 0.9-0.7 m beam. Two of the canoes were dated between 1509-1647 and 1414-1465 cal AD, 1r. The diagnostic characters identified in the wood link all the samples to Enterolobium contortisiliquum. The use for centuries of the same species in different areas shows the importance of the type of raw material selected and reflects a shared knowledge of the properties of the dry wood: light and porous that contributes to buoyancy, easy to work, and with mechanical resistance. This, in addition to the size of the tree, up to 30 m high and 2.5 m in diameter, has favored its preference for the manufacture of hulls. These watercrafts constitute a unique cultural heritage on the pre-Hispanic naval engineering of the skilled navigators of the La Plata Basin.

Comechingonia. Revista de Arqueología, Apr 1, 2021

El sitio arqueológico Cerro Tapera Vázquez (CTV) se encuentra dentro del Parque Nacional Pre-Delt... more El sitio arqueológico Cerro Tapera Vázquez (CTV) se encuentra dentro del Parque Nacional Pre-Delta, en el ambiente insular del río Paraná. Dos dataciones radiocarbónicas sobre restos de carbón vegetal ubican la ocupación humana en torno a los 600 años radiocarbónicos AP. En este artículo se presentan nuevos resultados obtenidos a partir del reanálisis del conjunto faunístico de este sitio arqueológico. Se identificaron diferentes especies de mamíferos, las cuales incluyen cérvidos (Blastocerus dichotomus, Ozotoceros bezoarticus), carnívoros (Leopardus geoffroyi, Lycalopex gymnocercus) y roedores (Myocastor coypus, Cavia aperea, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris). Además, en menor medida, se identificaron algunos restos de aves (Podiceps major), peces (Pimelodus sp., Doradidae) y moluscos de agua dulce. La principal presa explotada fue el coipo (Myocastor coypus). Por otra parte, la presencia de otros recursos acuáticos y terrestres probablemente se deba a la caza ocasional (e.g. Leopardus geoffroyi) o a su incorporación natural al depósito (e.g. Cavia aperea).

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2020

Springer-Nature, 2021

The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this p... more The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.

Edulp, Editorial de la Universidad de la Plata, UNLP, La Plata., 2019

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2024

The aim of this paper is to advance the understanding of the technological processes behind pre-H... more The aim of this paper is to advance the understanding of the technological processes behind pre-Hispanic ceramic production in the Lower Paraná River (Argentina) through the application of Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI). This computational stereo-photometric method allows the surface relief of objects to be recorded under different illumination directions. In this way, details such as cracks, changes in relief and small holes that are not visible by direct observation or standard photography can be revealed. This technique was applied to two ceramic objects recovered from the archaeological sites Cerro de las Pajas Blancas 1 and La Calavera (San Jerónimo department, Santa Fe province). From the first site, a motif made using the drag and jab technique was analyzed, and from the second site, a piece exhibiting a net imprint on its interior was studied. It is proposed, on the one hand, that RTI provides more information than standard digital photography for the documentation and analysis of different techniques applied to ceramic surfaces. On the other hand, RTI continues to demonstrate its value as a tool for studying archaeological artefacts, as it is effective, non-invasive, cost-efficient, and creates a permanent interactive record without the need for physical manipulation of the artefact.

Comechingonia

El Túmulo de Malacara fue localizado en 1913 por Luis María Torres y Carlos Ameghino en la costa ... more El Túmulo de Malacara fue localizado en 1913 por Luis María Torres y Carlos Ameghino en la costa atlántica bonaerense. En este artículo se reestudia la colección bioantropológica y arqueológica de este sitio emblemático de la arqueología pampeana para conocer los modos
de vida de las sociedades indígenas de la región durante el Holoceno tardío. Se analizan los huesos humanos de al menos 13 individuos y los sedimentos de esos entierros, junto con 57 cuentas sobre exoesqueletos de moluscos y 104 artefactos líticos que se encuentran depositados en el Museo de La Plata. Además, se presentan tres nuevas dataciones radiocarbónicas de entre 2550 y 2750 años 14C AP y 26 señales sotópicas de δ13Ccol, δ13Cap y δ15N que evidencian un mayor consumo de plantas de tipo C3 o de herbívoros terrestres consumidores de esas plantas. Para este estudio integral además se contextualizan los
trabajos de principios del siglo XX con documentación de archivo. En conjunto con el análisis de la colección y de fotografías históricas, se revisaron imágenes satelitales y de vuelos de dron y se realizaron nuevos trabajos de campo entre la margen derecha del arroyo La Malacara y las dunas móviles próximas al mar. Estas tareas permitieron localizar una
anomalía geomorfológica en forma de anillo con un montículo central en donde se hallaron artefactos líticos que podría corresponder a los remanentes de la excavación de este sitio localizado hace 110 años.

Revista del Museo de Antropología , 2024

En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de los análisis antracológicos efectuados en el sitio... more En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de los análisis antracológicos efectuados en el sitio arqueológico Cerro de las Pajas Blancas 1 (CDLPB1). CDLPB1 es un sitio clásico dentro de la literatura del NEA tradicionalmente caracterizado como un asentamiento Guaraní, pero que recientes excavaciones muestran una clara ocupación asociada a la entidad arqueológica Goya-Malabrigo. En el marco de estos últimos trabajos, se efectuaron estudios antracológicos sobre la totalidad de maderas carbonizadas recuperadas en el sitio. Para la identificación, se elaboró la primera clave identificatoria del área, y la interpretación incluyó aproximaciones cuantitativas y cualitativas. Se identificaron 22 taxones. Los resultados indican una importante frecuencia de algarrobo (Neltuma sp.) y espinillo (Vachellia sp.) que podrían haber sido utilizados como combustible para la cocción de alfarería y/o de alimentos y para obtener luz y calor. Otras maderas blandas con frecuencias menores (Salix sp. -sauce, Enterolobium sp. -timbó-, Nectandra sp. -laurel, Myrsine sp. -canelón, Erythrina sp. -seibo-) podrían haber sido recolectadas para la fabricación de artefactos y como avivadoras o iniciadoras de fuegos. A su vez, la presencia de especímenes no-locales como Schinopsis sp. (quebracho) refuerza la idea de una circulación e intercambio de objetos con poblaciones humanas del Centro-Norte argentino en tiempos prehispánicos.

The Oxford Handbook of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 2024

Indigenous coastal communities in the Pacific, Caribbean, Atlantic, and Patagonian regions of Sou... more Indigenous coastal communities in the Pacific, Caribbean, Atlantic, and Patagonian regions of South America sustainably shed, harvested shell sh and other marine species, and hunted sea lions for millennia. Considerable variation exists in the types of coastal archaeological sites found in these regions, ranging from small to large shell middens and shell rings to sedentary maritime villages to massive sambaqui (mortuary mounds). The authors summarize the environmental setting, chronology, and type of coastal and inland sites, and their function and meaning, extending from the western Paci c coast of Colombia to the Caribbean shores and the eastern Atlantic areas of Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina, as well as the southwest Paci c coastlines of Tierra del Fuego and Chile. They present information that early peoples exploited several of these areas by at least 8000 years ago after sea levels and shorelines stabilized, with complex social and economic institutions appearing after about 5000-4000 years ago. In late Holocene and colonial times, several of these areas were inhabited by sedentary peoples moving around seasonally and using an array of littoral and inland habitats.

Archaeometry, 2024

This research delves into ancient pigment practices among the Goya-Malabrigo societies in the Upp... more This research delves into ancient pigment practices among the Goya-Malabrigo societies in the Upper Delta of the Paran
a River during the Late Holocene. Utilising Raman microspectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, we analysed 33 samples from six archaeological sites and four natural outcrops. Our discoveries uncovered hematite in red pigments across diverse materials (potsherds, shells, human bones, and sediments), anatase adorning ceramics with whitish tones, and charcoal creating darker shades. These findings not only contribute to the understanding of the mineral composition of ancient colours used by Indigenous people in
domestic and funerary contexts but also set the first stage for forthcoming provenance research, integrating multiple archaeometric techniques to unravel the origins of these compelling pigments.

Scientific collections on the move. Provincial museums, archives, and collecting practices (1800–1950), 2024

My case study centres on the provenance of the French archaeological collections of Florentino Am... more My case study centres on the provenance of the French archaeological collections of Florentino Ameghino (1853-1911), currently housed at the Museo de La Plata in Argentina. The collection primarily consists of lithic materials, alongside casts, bones, and pottery from the Lower, Middle, and Upper Paleolithic, Neolithic, and Bronze periods of France and Belgium. The study aims to elucidate how Ameghino obtained his European collection through fieldwork, purchases, or exchanges with amateurs and specialists in European Prehistory. This research is part of the SciCoMove project, funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie (grant agreement No 101007579).

Revista del Museo de Antropología , 2023

La División Arqueología es uno de los pilares del Museo de La Plata (MLP) desde sus inicios en 18... more La División Arqueología es uno de los pilares del Museo de La Plata (MLP) desde sus inicios en 1884. La colección fundacional del Museo estuvo integrada en su mayoría por objetos antropológicos y arqueológicos que fueron donados por su creador Francisco Pascasio Moreno (1852-1919). A Moreno le sucedieron en la dirección del Museo Samuel Lafone Quevedo (1835-1920) y Luis María Torres (1878-1937), quienes dedicaron gran parte de su vida De lo analógico a la digitalización de las colecciones de la División Arqueología del Museo de La Plata (Argentina)

Heritage, 2023

Florentino Ameghino’s works were fundamental for archeology in Argentina. His first collections w... more Florentino Ameghino’s works were fundamental for archeology in Argentina. His first collections were shown in the book La antigüedad del hombre en el Plata {Antiquity of Man in the La Plata Basin} (1880–1881), a synthesis of the previous prehistoric studies whose purpose was arguing in favor of an ancient antiquity of the human occupation in the Argentine Pampas, which granted his archeological investigations international recognition. In this article, we present the first results of a comprehensive study on the aforementioned collection, which is currently in the Archeology Division of the La Plata Museum. We identified the pieces based on the published images, we analyzed the lithic and ceramic artifacts and bone remains, and we contextualized the information on the archeological sites from which they came. We recognized the importance of the collection for this investigation and for its conservation, acknowledging work practices related to the identification, classification and communication processes of the materials in the early days of this discipline. The revision of this museum collection shows the constructive nature of the cultural heritage, reflecting on the subjects, wisdoms, and actions that take part in their furtherance throughout time.

Boletim do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Ciências Humanas, 2022

In Argentinean Northeast archaeology, few studies address the firing procedures of pre-Hispanic ... more In Argentinean Northeast archaeology, few studies address the firing procedures of pre-Hispanic pottery making. Until now, no physical chemical techniques have been applied to measure the transformations suffered by ceramics during firing. In order to modify this situation, we applied X-ray diffraction, differential thermal and thermogravimetric analysis, and thermal expansion on 31 archaeological ceramic samples recovered at the Los Tres Cerros 1 and Cerro Tapera Vázquez sites (Upper Delta of the Paraná River). Most of the samples (i.e., vessels with a restricted and unrestricted mouth, ‘campanas’ and ‘spoon’) were firing at temperatures above 550/650ºC and below 800ºC; four did not exceed
550/650ºC, and two were subjected to temperatures above 800/900ºC. These results, joined with ethnoarchaeological, experimental, and archaeological evidence, allowed us to read into the wide range of firing temperatures detected (< 550ºC and > 800ºC) as indicative of firing in open structures (i.e., bonfires or pits). In addition, this data allowed us to
discuss different firing conditions hypotheses proposed in previous research and to develop an experimental program that will allow us to know different aspects of the pre-Hispanic firing procedures.

Springer-Nature, 2021

In this chapter, the economic and symbolic relations between animals and pre-Hispanic indigenous ... more In this chapter, the economic and symbolic relations between animals and pre-Hispanic indigenous people from the Middle and Lower Paraná River of Argentina, South America are discussed. This issue is approached throughout the analyses of pottery zoomorphic appendages, which represent birds, mammals, reptiles and mollusks, and are assigned to the Goya-Malabrigo archaeological entity (~2000 14 C yrs BP to seventeenth century). These appendages have realistic morphological details that allowed taxonomic identification at class, order, family, genus or species level. These pottery representations of the animals are contrasted with the faunal remains from the Goya-Malabrigo archaeological sites. The combination of these different information sources shows that the preys that were regularly eaten were not depicted in the appendages, and that the nutritional role of animals was not favored in these representations. The present study allows a discussion about the human-animal interrelation, which in turn contributes to global theoretical approaches, related to the humanization of nature.

Journal of Island & Coastal Archaeology, 2023

In the La Plata Basin, indigenous populations used canoes for colonizing islands, moving people, ... more In the La Plata Basin, indigenous populations used canoes for colonizing islands, moving people, fishing, transporting loads, and warfare. According to sixteenth century chronicles, dugout canoes were large, up to 24 m in length, and had a capacity for 40 people. In this paper, four dugout canoes recovered in La Plata River, and in the Paran a Delta, are studied. Their context of discovery, dimensions, radiocarbon dating, and the wood taxonomic identification are presented. Canoes were vital for the riverine populations that inhabited the study area since at least two thousand years ago but constitute a rare record given the low likelihood of preservation. The studied canoes measure between 10-8 m in length and 0.9-0.7 m beam. Two of the canoes were dated between 1509-1647 and 1414-1465 cal AD, 1r. The diagnostic characters identified in the wood link all the samples to Enterolobium contortisiliquum. The use for centuries of the same species in different areas shows the importance of the type of raw material selected and reflects a shared knowledge of the properties of the dry wood: light and porous that contributes to buoyancy, easy to work, and with mechanical resistance. This, in addition to the size of the tree, up to 30 m high and 2.5 m in diameter, has favored its preference for the manufacture of hulls. These watercrafts constitute a unique cultural heritage on the pre-Hispanic naval engineering of the skilled navigators of the La Plata Basin.

Comechingonia. Revista de Arqueología, Apr 1, 2021

El sitio arqueológico Cerro Tapera Vázquez (CTV) se encuentra dentro del Parque Nacional Pre-Delt... more El sitio arqueológico Cerro Tapera Vázquez (CTV) se encuentra dentro del Parque Nacional Pre-Delta, en el ambiente insular del río Paraná. Dos dataciones radiocarbónicas sobre restos de carbón vegetal ubican la ocupación humana en torno a los 600 años radiocarbónicos AP. En este artículo se presentan nuevos resultados obtenidos a partir del reanálisis del conjunto faunístico de este sitio arqueológico. Se identificaron diferentes especies de mamíferos, las cuales incluyen cérvidos (Blastocerus dichotomus, Ozotoceros bezoarticus), carnívoros (Leopardus geoffroyi, Lycalopex gymnocercus) y roedores (Myocastor coypus, Cavia aperea, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris). Además, en menor medida, se identificaron algunos restos de aves (Podiceps major), peces (Pimelodus sp., Doradidae) y moluscos de agua dulce. La principal presa explotada fue el coipo (Myocastor coypus). Por otra parte, la presencia de otros recursos acuáticos y terrestres probablemente se deba a la caza ocasional (e.g. Leopardus geoffroyi) o a su incorporación natural al depósito (e.g. Cavia aperea).

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2020

Ancient Hunting Strategies in Southern South America Editors: Belardi, J.B., Bozzuto, D.L., Fernández, P.M., Moreno, E.A., Neme, G.A. (Eds.), 2021

In this chapter we discuss the strategies used by hunter-gatherers to capture guanaco (Lama guani... more In this chapter we discuss the strategies used by hunter-gatherers to capture guanaco (Lama guanicoe) in the southeastern Pampas during the Late Holocene (ca. 3500 to 500 14 C years BP). We summarize the analysis of different evidence (e.g., mortality and skeletal part profiles, sex structure, weapons systems) obtained from four archaeological sites; three associated with the initial Late Holocene (ca. 3400-1700 14 C years BP; Calera, Nutria Mansa 1, and Empalme Querandíes 1) and one with the final Late Holocene (ca. 1300-800 14 C years BP; Hangar). Results indicate that during the initial Late Holocene, the guanaco hunting tactics were focused on family groups and troops of males. At this time, bola stones were more frequently used as thrown weapons. On the other hand, during the final Late Holocene, there is a significant quantity of small triangular projectile points linked with the use of bow and arrow, indicating a change in the Pampas weapon systems. The landscape geomorphology in which some of the archaeological sites are located allows us to suggest the use of active traps during the Late Holocene. River junctions and dune ridges were places where it would have been possible to enclose the principal prey of pre-Hispanic indigenous populations that inhabited the Pampas for millennia.

Habitus, 2020

Neste trabalho apresentamos os resultados de duas linhas de pesquisa que contribuem para a interp... more Neste trabalho apresentamos os resultados de duas linhas de pesquisa que contribuem para a interpretação da funcionalidade das vasilhas arqueológicas Guarani: a classificação morfológica dos recipientes e a análise de microvestígios. Para este estudo foram analisadas 20 vasilhas inteiras ou semi-inteiras do Museu Regional Aníbal Cambas (Misiones, Argentina). A partir de atributos morfométricos, os recipientes foram classificados de acordo com as categorias
funcionais estabelecidas para a cerâmica Guarani: japepo (panela), ñaetá (caçarola), ña’ẽmbé, ou tembiyru (prato), kambuchi (cântaro) e kambuchi kaguava (copo). A análise dos microvestígios extraídos do interior destas vasilhas permitiu identificar, além de espículas de espongiários, a presença de fitólitos de gramíneas (principalmente da família Poaceae) e grãos de amido de plantas cultivadas (Zea mays e Cucurbita sp.). Através da correlação entre o conteúdo vegetal e as alterações tafonômicas observadas em alguns microvestígios, se discutem os usos dados às vasilhas e os alcances da taxonomia funcional baseada na analogia etnohistórica.

Latin American Antiquity, 2020

El registro de Canis familiaris en contextos arqueológicos resulta cada vez más frecuente en Suda... more El registro de Canis familiaris en contextos arqueológicos resulta cada vez más frecuente en Sudamérica. En este escenario, este trabajo discute su rol económico y social dentro de las sociedades indígenas prehispánicas. Se presentan nuevos hallazgos de perros procedentes de cinco sitios arqueológicos del Noreste argentino. La muestra estudiada incluye siete especímenes craneales y uno poscraneal correspondientes a individuos jóvenes y adultos, de tamaños medianos (13-23 kg). Algunos de los especímenes presentan huellas de corte y marcas de carnívoros. Tres nuevas fechas taxón ubican a la muestra entre aproximadamente 2500 y 900 cal aP. Se concluye que C. familiaris presenta edades y tamaños ligeramente mayores a los registrados previamente. Asimismo, la evidencia antrópica indica procesamiento y consumo de esta especie. Las dataciones extienden el rango cronológico conocido previamente para este taxón en Argentina, Brasil y Uruguay. Su presencia se vincula a cazadores-recolectores-pescadores y horticultores, con una marcada adaptación fluvial durante el Holoceno tardío.

Journal of Lithic Studies, 2019

Several authors argue that bipolar technology is an expeditious and versatile strategy, efficient... more Several authors argue that bipolar technology is an expeditious and versatile strategy, efficient for the reduction of small nodules. However, few studies analyze the use of bipolar reduction in relation to the lithic environmental supply. At the Pampean and Patagonian maritime coast, the technique has been widely recorded and seems to be conspicuous in indigenous populations that occupied coastal areas. With the aim of assessing and comparing the application of bipolar reduction, 196 nuclei recovered from sites of diverse chronologies in the Pampean and northcentral Patagonic coasts were analyzed. The use of the bipolar technique was observed in relation to the lithic environmental structure, the size of nodules and their raw material. The results revealed high frequencies of bipolar nuclei at the Pampean coast (87%) and moderate frequencies at the northcentral Patagonic coast (39%). It was determined that the variables that influenced the application of bipolar techniques the most were the small size of the nodules and their rounded shape, generally thick, and without flat surfaces. As for raw material quality, the technique was applied on good to medium quality rocks at the Pampean coast, while in the northcentral coast it was exclusively applied on pebbles and cobbles of superior qualities (very good to excellent). The differences observed are most likely linked with technological choices made by different coastal populations to make the best use of widely available local rocks.

Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 2020

Woody plant resources are important to human societies today and were also in the past. Here we a... more Woody plant resources are important to human societies today and were also in the past. Here we assess the woody plant resources available to peoples in Northeastern Argentina in the pre-Hispanic period and assess how they were used. The Upper Paraná Delta (Entre Ríos province, Argentina) was occupied by indigenous societies during the last 2000 years, and evidence of those peoples has been found at Los Tres Cerros 1 archaeological site (inhabited at least between 765 to 1505 cal years ad). From the local traditional and ethnographical literature, a broad functionality of the determined taxa is proposed, to use as a basis for palaeoethnobotanical interpretations. Species of the Lauraceae, Passifloraceae, Fabaceae, Salicaceae, Boraginaceae and Apocynaceae families were found dispersed about the site; they possibly grew close to the settlement and had diverse indigenous uses (e.g. for the construction of canoes and other artefacts in daily use). Other species were found concentrated on the archaeological site. They were related to Euphorbaceae, Fabaceae, Cyperaceae, Anacardiaceae, Apo-cynaceae, Myrtaceae and Primulaceae and were probably used as fuel in domestic activities (e.g. to obtain light, heat and to cook food and fire pottery). Forty-three carbonized wood samples were studied. Charcoals related to Sapium, Nectandra and Aspidosperma genera were identified next to pottery and animal bones. The presence of Schinopsis in the anthracologi-cal record shows the extra-local link of the pre-Hispanic populations that occupied the Paraná river basin. Finally, these new advances increase the knowledge about the vegetation nearby the archaeological site at the end of the Late Holocene.

Revista Arqueología FFyL UBA, 2019

En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de los trabajos de campo y de laboratorio llevados a ... more En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de los trabajos de campo y de laboratorio llevados a cabo sobre una amplia diversidad de rocas plausibles de ser aprovechadas como recursos líticos que se encuentran naturalmente disponibles en el sur del nordeste argentino. El objetivo general de estos estudios es el desarrollo de un marco de referencia útil para la interpretación de los conjuntos líticos del sector bajo estudio. Para esto, se desarrolla una síntesis que recopila información tanto arqueológica como geológica junto a datos novedosos generados mediante prospecciones a escala regional y estudios petrográficos a nivel micro y macroscópico. De este modo fue posible precisar, desde un enfoque arqueológico, la localización y la accesibilidad espacial de diversos afloramientos rocosos y caracterizar la morfología, estructura y composición mineralógica de una amplia diversidad de fuentes de materia prima lítica. Finalmente, se hizo foco sobre las características de una de las materias primas más frecuentemente mencionadas en la literatura arqueológica, las areniscas, y se llevaron a cabo estudios tendientes a discriminar la procedencia de las mismas y las transformaciones que estas rocas pudieron sufrir por termoalteración en el pasado prehispánico.

A pesar de que los trabajos arqueológicos en la costa del Area Interserrana bonaerense tienen una... more A pesar de que los trabajos arqueológicos en la costa del Area Interserrana bonaerense tienen una larga trayectoria (Ameghino a; Torres y Ameghino 1913 a, b; entre otros), estos se desarrollaron en pulsos discontinuos con diferentes grados de intensidad.

El área de estudio se encuentra ubicada entre el sector de salientes rocosos de Cabo Corrientes y... more El área de estudio se encuentra ubicada entre el sector de salientes rocosos de Cabo Corrientes y la desembocadura del río Quequén Salado, en la costa de las llanuras del Area

https://www.fcnym.unlp.edu.ar/posgrado/programas-de-posgrado/programa-de-posgrado-en-arqueometria/, 2024

PRINCIPALES CONTENIDOS 1) Introducción a la Arqueometría. Responsables: Dr. Mariano Bonomo (FCNy... more PRINCIPALES CONTENIDOS

1. Introducción a la Arqueometría. Responsables: Dr. Mariano Bonomo (FCNyM) y Dra. Norma Ratto (FCNyM-UBA)
2. Datación radiocarbónica. Responsable: Lic. Florencia Mari (Laboratorio de Radiocarbono del CIG)
3. Zooarqueología y tafonomía. Responsables: Dras. Laura Miotti (FCNyM) y María Gutiérrez (INCUAPA)
4. Geoarqueometría. Responsables: Dras. Carola Castiñeira y Adriana Blasi (División Mineralogía del Museo de La Plata)
5. Isótopos estables. Responsables: Dres. Adolfo Gil (LIECA) y Augusto Tessone (INGEIS)
6. Residuos orgánicos. Responsable: Dra. Irene Lantos (IDECU, UBA-CONICET)
7. Arqueometría de cerámicas arqueológicas. Responsables: Dras. María Emilia Iucci (Laboratorio de Análisis Cerámico, FCNyM) y Violeta Di Prado (INCUAPA-FCNyM)
8. Estudio integral de materiales líticos. Responsables: Dras. Virginia Lynch y Marcela Leipus (FCNyM)
9. Arqueobotánica. Responsables: Dras. Aylen Caparelli (FCNyM) y Mariana Brea y equipo (CICyTTP-Diamante)
10. Prospección geofísica y teledetección. Responsable: Dr. Santiago Perdomo (Facultad de Astronomía, UNLP)
11. Genética para casos arqueológicos. Responsables: Dr. Ivan Perez (FCNyM) y Dra. Bárbara Postillone (FCNyM)
12. Principios de la conservación arqueológica. Responsable: Gabriela Ammirati (Museo Etnográfico, UBA)
13. Arqueometalurgia. Responsable: Dra. Florencia Becerra (UBA)
14. Rayos-x y electrones para caracterización de materiales arqueológicos. Responsable: Lic. Bernarda Epele (Y-TEC, UNAJ)

Comienzo: 20 de marzo de 2024
Duración: 9 meses. Carga horaria total de 320 hs, distribuidas en 11 cursos y 3 talleres
Formulario de inscripción: https://forms.gle/PpkmTduLBN5S4iBq7
Consultas sobre aranceles y plan de estudio: arqueometria@fcnym.unlp.edu.ar

Field Trip Guide/Guía de la salida de campo, C. Weitzel, N. Mazzia y N. Flegenheimer (eds)., 2017

Vegetation History and Ethnobotany, 2020

Woody plant resources are important to human societies today and were also in the past. Here we a... more Woody plant resources are important to human societies today and were also in the past. Here we assess the woody plant resources available to peoples in Northeastern Argentina in the pre-Hispanic period and assess how they were used. The Upper Paraná Delta (Entre Ríos province, Argentina) was occupied by indigenous societies during the last 2000 years, and evidence of those peoples has been found at Los Tres Cerros 1 archaeological site (inhabited at least between 765 to 1505 cal years ad). From the local traditional and ethnographical literature, a broad functionality of the determined taxa is proposed, to use as a basis for palaeoethnobotanical interpretations. Species of the Lauraceae, Passifloraceae, Fabaceae, Salicaceae, Boraginaceae and Apocynaceae families were found dispersed about the site; they possibly grew close to the settlement and had diverse indigenous uses (e.g. for the construction of canoes and other artefacts in daily use). Other species were found concentrated on the archaeological site. They were related to Euphorbaceae, Fabaceae, Cyperaceae, Anacardiaceae, Apo-cynaceae, Myrtaceae and Primulaceae and were probably used as fuel in domestic activities (e.g. to obtain light, heat and to cook food and fire pottery). Forty-three carbonized wood samples were studied. Charcoals related to Sapium, Nectandra and Aspidosperma genera were identified next to pottery and animal bones. The presence of Schinopsis in the anthracologi-cal record shows the extra-local link of the pre-Hispanic populations that occupied the Paraná river basin. Finally, these new advances increase the knowledge about the vegetation nearby the archaeological site at the end of the Late Holocene.