Primeras tendencias ictioarqueológicas en la localidad bajo de la quinta, Río Negro, Argentina

Abstract

This paper presents the first ichthyoarchaeological analysis of Bajo de la Quinta (BQ), an archaeological locality on the northern coast of San Matías Gulf. Field observations and initial faunal studies in the area show a high proportion of fish remains both in surface scatters and shell midden sites. The initial goals were to determine the main species consumed, characterize the context of the faunal assemblages and, finally, to establish temporal trends in fish consumption for the area. The results show the prominent role played by fish from the Mid Holocene (ca. 6000 BP) to the Late Holocene (ca. 800 BP), although chronological variations were observed as regards size and number of taxa present. These results confirm trends observed in previous paleodietary data and enable the role of fish in relation to other resources at different moments in the history of the human occupation of the northern coast of San Matías Gulf to be quantified.