A Glimpse into Advances in Archaeological Research in North-Central Uruguay

Abstract

The Tacuarembó Department of north-central Uruguay, and especially in the middle portion of the Negro River, has produced a rich and diverse archaeological record, mostly characterized by significant evidence of stone tool remains. The evidence comprises one of the largest collections of artifacts witnessing early human occupation in the region during the terminal Pleistocene about 11,000-10,000 uncalibrated radiocarbon years ago. As part of a long-term research program aimed at exploring and understanding diverse aspects of the regional archaeological process, mainly focusing on the earliest people who colonized the New World, as well as to deepen and expand knowledge on diverse aspects of the Late Pleistocene and post-Pleistocene stone tool technologies employed by the prehistoric people living in this part of southeastern South America. Systematic research enabled numerous field and laboratory activities to be conducted. To build a chronostratigraphic framework for the regional archaeological process, various dating methods were used. Furthermore, diverse technological analyses on lithic artifacts facilitated recognition of the existence of unreported techniques and reduction strategies employed by the prehistoric inhabitants. By this way this paper summarizes the observations and results obtained during the most recent field and laboratory investigation carried out in Tacuarembó by offering a glimpse into the use of diverse scientific disciplines and approaches that may help to deepen various topics concerning the regional prehistoric past. The archaeological excavations as well as the variety of dating methods used have allowed us to understand the chronology and certain aspects of the site formation process revealing important depositional gaps and hiatuses of several thousand years in the dated sedimentary deposit. The new technological investigations have permitted more detailed knowledge to be collected regarding diverse topics related to the reduction systems existing in the area since the terminal Pleistocene.

Fell points from Merín Lagoon, Uruguay: new data and their relevance to the peopling of south-eastern South America

“…These types of finds are rare; several preforms similar to the Merín Lagoon example have parallel edges and bevelled bases, some with isolated nipples for fluting (e.g. Nami 2020, 2021b). Similar platform preparation used in Fell-point production has been recorded across South America (e.g.…”

“…Experimental research suggests that the transverse breaks on points 13 (Figure 4b) and 11 (Figure 4c)—approximately across the middle, the stem and the blade stem/blade junction—were probably caused by impact when used as an armature tip (Dumbar 2012; Weitzel et al . 2014; Nami 2019, 2020). As observed on numerous Fell points (Bird 1969; Böeda et al .…”

“…2020). The region is also characterised by its shared geology and geography, as well as archaeological record (López-Mazz 2013; Loponte et al 2016; Moreno da Souza 2020; Nami 2020). The geomorphological development of the region has been shaped by phenomena such as Terminal Pleistocene and Holocene tectonics, isostasy and sea-level oscillations (Ayup-Zouain 2006; Bossi & Ortiz 2011; Bracco Boksar et al .…”

“…To investigate human migration routes and colonisation events, and later socio-cultural developments in the New World, my research has focused on understanding the diverse Terminal Pleistocene/Early Holocene (≤11.0–9.0/8.0 kya) lithic technologies found across the Americas (e.g. Nami 2017b, 2020; Nami & Yataco Capcha 2020). Here, I present new data from the south-western part of the Merín Lagoon in north-eastern Uruguay that sheds light on the early peopling of this region.…”

Raw materials and functional designs of Fishtail projectile points from southern Brazil

“…Findings of FPs in southern Brazil are concentrated on the surface, similar to what has happened in other regions regarding early occupations, such as the Alaskan fluted points discovered in the 1940s, but identified in stratigraphy 40 years later (Smith & DeWitt 2017); or in the Argentine Pampa, where until the 1980s they were practically only recognized by surface findings, and as still happens in the plain of Uruguay. Here, they had been recognized in a few sites in stratigraphy such as Urupez, Minas de Callorda, Navarro, perhaps in Cerro de los Burros (Gascue et al 2013;Meneghin 2004;Nami 2007;2020b), and a fragment that has been proposed as FP at the Tigre site (Suárez & Cardillo 2019). Certainly, the identification of reliable early sites with good resolution is still extremely rare as is the case in many other South American regions (Nami 2019), and it will take time to discover local sites of the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary with adequate records in South Brazil.…”