An extensive in situ Raman spectroscopic campaign was performed on archaeological sites in three different provinces in Patagonia, Argentina (Neuquén, Río Negro and Chubut). 16 open air shelters located in different environments (forests, ecotones, steppes) were investigated and interpreted in terms of pigments used and the identification of substrata. Special attention was given to the alteration products and accretions that were found on the rock art paintings of the shelters and on the surface of the rock walls, as they can affect and damage this magnificent works of art. Haematite (α-Fe 2 O 3) was the main chromophore that was found on the red paintings of the most of the shelters studied. The green earth glauconite, was identified only in one case, by using a red (785 nm) and a green laser (532 nm). Other minerals and silicates were found on the couloured areas but also on the rock support. Calcite (CaCO 3) and gypsum (CaSO 4 •2H 2 O) crystallization was identified on the paintings, crusts and rock surfaces, in combination or alone, and are associated with weathering. In some cases the shelters were so severely degraded that no Raman signal of pigments and/or other components could be retrieved. Calcium oxalates were also detected in several figures and motifs in different shelters.

Portable Raman spectroscopy is applied for the first time on rock art paintings from hunter‐gatherers in three different provinces in Patagonia, Argentina (Neuquén, Río Negro and Chubut). Selected archaeological sites were examined, revealing the local ‘palette’ of the native population and, if possible, the technology used. Moreover, alteration products were investigated to obtain valuable information for a better conservation and preservation of these magnificent rock art paintings. During a single research campaign, 16 shelters and one cave were investigated, which makes this study as one of the most condensed expeditions on measuring rock art paintings. Here, we evaluate the use of our portable Raman instrument to analyse rock art paintings under extreme conditions in Patagonia, Argentina. Several improvements are proposed to maximize the quality of the research output in such condensed expeditions. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Hair arsenic concentrations were measured in 50 dogs living at Barrio Los Alamos, Gran Buenos Aires, Argentina, to evaluate the contamination risk in humans living in an area with arsenic levels higher than maximum allowed limit of 10 mg l À1 . This region belongs to the zone in Argentina with Chronic Endemic Hydroarsenicism. Quantification of the samples was carried out using total reflection X-ray fluorescence technique after a sample preparation procedure. Independent of genre, age and breed, hair dogs from Los Alamos had significantly higher arsenic concentrations than a set of ten dogs used as blank coming from a free arsenic area. These found levels in hair indicated a chronic contamination in dogs and suggest similar presumption in humans. Results of this study encourage the potential of using pets as biomarkers of environmental metal contamination.

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The arsenic occurrence in the water constitutes a serious world health concern due to its toxicity. Depending on the intensity and duration of exposure, this element can be acutely lethal or may have a wide range of health effects in humans and animals. In Argentina, the origin of arsenic is mainly natural, and related to different geological processes. The Argentinean concern about arsenic and its influence on human health dates back to the previous century. The disease ascribed to arsenic contamination was called 'chronic regional endemic hydroarsenism'. It is produced by the consumption of water with high levels of this element. In our study, we focused in La Matanza district, a very populated site in the Buenos Aires Province. An increasing concern of the inhabitants of the area regarding health problems was detected. In order to establish a full view of arsenic exposure in the area, several matrices and targets were analyzed. As matrices, water and soil samples were analyzed. As targets, canine and human hair was studied. The aim of this study was to investigate acute and chronic exposure to arsenic of La Matanza inhabitants.

In this work synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction technique was successfully applied for the analysis of pigments found in excavation at Carriqueo rock shelter, Neuquén, Argentina. The pigment samples of orange, red, and brown shades were collected from different levels of this archaeological site and compared with a suspected source of provenance (La Oficina creek). X-ray diffraction patterns of several yellowish, reddish, and red pigments showed the presence of haematite, goethite, kaolinite, and quartz. The majority of Carriqueo collected samples belonged to the same group of the suspected source, having haematite and quartz as main crystalline phases. The results indicate that the raw material from La Oficina is the source of most of the pigments found at Carriqueo. The present work helps us to understand the strategy of supplying raw materials by human groups in the North Patagonia region.

Micro-Raman spectroscopy was employed for the analysis of samples collected from the shelters