Land-use and ceramics in the Andean highlands of Patagonia, Argentina

Fernando Franchetti; Loukas Barton; Clara Otaola; Miguel Giardina; Nuria Sugrañes

doi:10.4312/dp.51.2

Authors

Fernando Franchetti IDEVEA, CONICET, National Technological University, San Rafael, Argentina
Loukas Barton Dudek, San Juan Capistrano, United States
Clara Otaola IDEVEA, CONICET, National Technological University, San Rafael, Argentina
Miguel Giardina IDEVEA, CONICET, National Technological University, San Rafael, Argentina
Nuria Sugrañes IDEVEA, CONICET, National Technological University, San Rafael, Argentina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4312/dp.51.2

Keywords:

ceramic analysis, use of space, northwestern Patagonia, hunter-gatherers

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to study the use of ceramics of small-scale societies during the late Holocene in northern Patagonia. The technological investment model predicts that use-time and utility will determine the investment spent in ceramics. We explore how ceramics were used in short-term camps and aggregation sites during summer at high elevations, and residential camps during winter at lower elevations. To test the investment in ceramics we use four technological variables: temper size, average thickness, surface treatment and firing. Our results indicate that hunter-gatherers expected a short-term use in summer locations and therefore made a low investment in ceramics.

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