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TECHNOLOGICAL EVIDENCE IN PAMPAS DEER ANTLERS FROM THE CENTER OF THE HUMID PAMPAS, ARGENTINA

EVIDENCIAS TECNOLÓGICAS EN ASTAS DE VENADO DE LAS PAMPAS EN EL CENTRO DE LA PAMPA HÚMEDA, ARGENTINA

María Clara Álvarez

Antler remains of Pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) are frequently recorded in the sites located in the center of the Argentinian Humid Pampas. These materials, however, are usually scarce and, in general, they are only collaterally mentioned in the archaeological literature. This article presents the analysis of antler remains from two archaeological sites -Empalme Querandíes 1 and Calera-. Results indicate that these elements were used with technological purposes. However, some parts of the antler (the tines) are not the more diagnostic ones to identify this behavior. This is because a large part of the modifications that are classified as “of cultural origin” also occur in the animal’s life. The bases, on the other hand, can present evidence of abrasion and flake negatives, which could be good indicators of the use of these elements as tools. In this study, several specimens with modifications, which could have been used as soft hammers, were identified. Finally, the technique that was used in the obtaining of blanks would have been débitage by segmentation.

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Tags: Bone technology, Pampas deer, antler, Pampas region

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