Análisis bioarqueológico de un individuo recuperado en el Fuerte San José (Pla. Valdés, Pcia. de Chubut, 1779-1810)

Abstract

As part of the ongoing archaeological research in Valdés Peninsula (Chubut), we present osteological, paleopathological, morphometrical, radiocarbon, stable isotopes and, mtDNA data of a skeleton recovered at San José Fort area (1779-1810). As Valdés Peninsula has evidence of human occupation since the Middle Holocene, the first goal was to assess whether the skeleton belonged to a settler of the Fort or was an unrelated native burial. Historical documents state that the Fort population was male and multiethnic in provenience. A burial ground is mentioned as well as two episodes of high mortality, at the beginning and at the end of the occupation. The burial corresponds to an adult, probably male, that lay on its back. Cranial lesions were found, compatible with a perimortem episode of violence. An AMS date (bone) of 387 ± 51 YBP (AA104437) was obtained. Values of ?13C= -15,2‰ and of ?15N=10,5‰ were obtained on bone collagen whereas ?18O yielded values of -1,7 ‰ and -0,9 ‰ in apatite and enamel, respectively. These results indicate diet and a provenience different from those known for local hunter-gatherers. Preliminary mtDNA analyses identified the Euroasian lineage. These results add to the still sparse information of late Colonial Non-native populations of Patagonia.