Anthropogenic pollen, foraging, and crops during Sierras of Córdoba Late Prehispanic Period (Argentina)

Abstract

The palynological study carried out in seven archaeological sites from Sierras of Córdoba Late Prehispanic Period (ca. 1500-360 yr BP) is presented in this article. The fossil pollen was used to assess the late prehispanic subsistence and mobility patterns based on their impact on local vegetation. Analogues obtained from modern vegetation and human-induced cultivation settings were used as a guideline for interpreting the ancient pollinic spectra. Results showed that anthropogenic pollen dominated by chenopod-amaranth plants occurred during a period of increased moisture and significant cultural change, where on-site farming and increasing occupation redundancy were identified. Thus, human disturbance and cultivation are thought to be the probable cause for elevated Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae percentage in fossil assemblages. Consequently, the late prehispanic societies were likely modifying vegetation more extensively than had been previously assumed and the composition of 'pristine' landscape was not only altered by climate change or after the Europeans' arrival. The ancient clearing of the forest for farming, housing, and/or other activities played a dynamic role in land cover conformation. So, the archaeological study of mixed foraging and cultivation economies needs to encompass human-plant-landscape interaction, leaving behind the concept of small-scale societies as passive foragers exploiting the ecosystem.

Tarsometatarsus, eggshells, and the species level identification of large‐sized flightless birds from Boyo Paso 2 (Sierras of Córdoba, Argentina)

“…Its identification indicates that the late pre-Hispanic Córdoba mountain environment presented a higher biodiversity than at present, being the modern landscape a nonaccurate analogue of past conditions, with R. pennata in the upper mountain grassland range approximately 10 km or close to the settlement (Medina, Acosta Hospitaleche, et al, 2011). This latest inference is supported by paleoecological data recovered on-site, suggesting that forest clearing was an extensive activity as to leave a mark in archaeological sediments through pollen spectra dominated by herbaceous plants commonly described as human disturbance indicators (Medina, Grill, Fernández, & López, 2017). Taphonomic attributes as whether the Boyo Paso 2 eggshell specimens are a consequence of natural bird nesting, broken eggs used like-containers or human food refuse are ambiguous to determine.…”

“…The results also demonstrate that although Rheidae eggs played an ancillary role when compared with larger preys as guanaco (Lama guanicoe), their economic importance cannot be understated at nominal scale, mainly when there are methodological reasons to rely on NISP as a roughly measure of the individual eggs consumed on-site (Marshall & Pilgram, 1993) or when the predictability, nutritional values, and low-capture cost of eggs are considered (Barri, Martella, & Navarro, 2009;Muscio, 1999;Navarro, Barri, Maestri, Labuckas, & Martella, 2003;Navarro, López, Maestri, & Labuckas, 2001;Prates, 2009;Quintana, 2008). Moreover, the record of R. pennata outranges its modern geographical distribution, along with other faunal and palynological evidence (Medina et al, 2017;Medina & Merino, 2012;Soibelzon, Medina, & Abba, 2013;Teta, Medina, Pastor, Rivero, & Paradela, 2005), indicates that the Late Holocene landscape presented a higher diversity for which the current environment is not accurate analogue.…”

Las Sociedades Prehispánicas Tardías en La Región Septentrional Del Centro De Argentina (Sierras Del Norte, Córdoba). Avances a Su Conocimiento Desde Los Recursos Vegetales

“…Las prácticas agrícolas desarrolladas en la región norte dan cuenta de grandes similitudes con las estrategias del sector centro-oeste en torno al desarrollo de una agricultura de pequeña escala, en tanto involucró superficies potencialmente cultivadas reducidas, con una baja tecnificación, por ejemplo la ausencia de sistemas de riego y sin muros de contención, que generó una escasa modificación del paisaje a corto plazo, en tanto las estrategias usadas se vincularían con una agricultura de limpieza del terreno y siembra directa (ver Medina et al 2017 para discusión sobre evidencias de modificación de paisaje por movilidad y reocupación de sitio).…”

Potrero de Garay y el espacio habitacional prehispánico tardío en las sierras de Córdoba (Argentina).

“…y el amaranto (Amaranthus spp.) en los alrededores de los sitios (Medina et al 2017). Si bien el maíz y el poroto están representados en casi todos los sitios excavados, su baja frecuencia e inclusive su ausencia en el registro palinológico, no permite sostener una fuerte dependencia hacia estos recursos, como argumento en favor del desarrollo de un alto grado de sedentarismo.…”

“…En cambio, los datos son consistentes con una producción agrícola cercana al concepto de horticultura de roza y quema, donde la caza y recolección ocuparon un lugar importante dentro de la agenda económica (Pastor y López 2011). _________________________________________________________________________________________________ En los últimos años se avanzó en el conocimiento del impacto de estos asentamientos en la vegetación local, discutiendo a partir de estos datos las estrategias tecnológicas, de subsistencia y movilidad tardías (Medina et al 2017). En tal sentido, la información paleoecológica de sitios similares a Potrero de Garay indica que la creación de entornos abiertos y perturbados, para cultivar y/o construir viviendas, fue una actividad lo suficientemente extensiva como para dejar su impronta en los sedimentos arqueológicos, con conjuntos polínicos dominados por plantas indicadoras de cultivos y otros disturbios antropogénicos.…”