Small mammal remains recovered from two archaeological sites in northwestern Mendoza (Late Holocene, Argentina): Taxonomic composition, taphonomic issues and paleoenvironmental implications

López, José Manuel Sáez; Chiavazza, Horacio; Rosi, María I.

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2015.06.028

Cited by 21 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Argentina (e.g., Mignino, 2017;Mignino et al, 2018), central west Argentina (e.g., Fernández et al, 2009aFernández et al, , 2015Fernández, 2012;Montalvo et al, 2016b;López et al, 2016López et al, , 2017aLópez et al, , 2018Fernández and Pardiñas, 2018), northwestern Argentina (e.g., Ortiz and Pardiñas, 2001;Ortiz and Jayat, 2007) and Patagonia (e.g., Crivelli Montero et al, 1996;Pardiñas, 1996Pardiñas, -1998Pardiñas, , 1999aFernández et al, 2011Fernández et al, , 2012Fernández et al, , 2016aAndrade, 2015). However, the predator taphonomy model of Andrews (1990), Fernández-Jalvo and Andrews (1992), has had a low impact on the studies of small mammal assemblages from archaeological sites of other countries of South America.…”

Section: Archaeological Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of the Actualistic Taphonomy of Small Mammals Ingested by South American Predators. Its Importance in the Interpretation of the Fossil Record

Montalvo

Fernández

2019

PEAPA

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In this paper, the current state of knowledge of the taphonomic characteristics of micromammal (rodents and marsupials) remains generated by the action of the different predators (avian raptors and carnivore mammals) of South America (particularly of Argentina), known through actualistic studies, is reviewed. The analyzed taphonomic attributes enabled the adjustment, by means of extensive comparisons among different groups of predators and prey, of the modification categories indicated in the original papers. The data herein revised and assessed suggest that the evaluated South American predators may be grouped into four categories of modification: a) Light (Tyto alba, Bubo virginianus, Strix chacoensis and Asio flammeus); b) Moderate (Athene cunicularia, Geranoaetus melanoleucus, Geranoaetus polyosoma and Pseudoscops clamator); c) Heavy (Circus buffoni, Caracara plancus, Elanus leucurus, Didelphis albiventris, Leopardus geoffroyi and Lontra longicaudis); d) Extreme (Milvago chimango, Puma concolor, Puma yagouaroundi, Conepatus chinga and Lycalopex griseus). Finally, the research herein discussed evaluates how these studies were applied in the fossil record of both palaeontological and archaeological sites of South America.Resumen. REVISIÓN DE LA TAFONOMÍA ACTUALÍSTICA DE LOS MICROMAMÍFEROS INGERIDOS POR DEPREDADORES DE AMÉRICA DEL SUR.SU IMPORTANCIA EN LA INTERPRETACIÓN DEL REGISTRO FÓSIL. En este trabajo se valora el estado actual del conocimiento de las características tafonómicas de los restos de micromamíferos (roedores y marsupiales) generados por la acción de los diferentes depredadores (aves rapaces y mamíferos carnívoros) de América del Sur (particularmente de Argentina), a través de la revisión de los estudios actualísticos. Los atributos tafonómicos analizados permitieron ajustar, a través de comparaciones extensas entre los diferentes grupos de depredadores y presas, las categorías de modificación indicadas en los artículos originales. La información revisada sugiere que los depredadores de América del Sur evaluados pueden agruparse en cuatro categorías de modificación: a) Ligera (Tyto alba, Bubo virginianus, Strix chacoensis y Asio flammeus); b) Moderada (Athene cunicularia, Geranoaetus melanoleucus, Geranoaetus polyosoma y Pseudoscops clamator); c) Fuerte (Circus buffoni, Caracara plancus, Elanus leucurus, Didelphis albiventris, Leopardus geoffroyi y Lontra longicaudis); d) Extrema (Milvago chimango, Puma concolor, Puma yagouaroundi, Conepatus chinga y Lycalopex griseus). Finalmente, se evalúa cómo estos estudios se aplicaron al registro zooarqueológico y paleontológico de América del Sur. Palabras clave. Modificaciones óseas. Neotafonomía. Micromamíferos. Depredadores. Análogos actuales. Argentina.

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Section: Archaeological Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of the Actualistic Taphonomy of Small Mammals Ingested by South American Predators. Its Importance in the Interpretation of the Fossil Record

Montalvo

Fernández

2019

PEAPA

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“…The action of these raptors has been inferred from different archaeological accumulations from various biomes within South America, including those from Monte Desert environments (Fernández ; López et al . ; Castillo et al . ).…”

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confidence: 94%

“…, , ; Fernández ; Fernández & De Santis ; López et al . ; Castillo et al . ) have been forced to use taphonomic models developed for other regions of the world (e.g.…”

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confidence: 96%

Taphonomy of small mammal bone accumulations generated by the Chaco owl (Strix chacoensis, Strigiformes) from the Monte Desert (Mendoza, Argentina): a contribution to South American archaeological and palaeontological studies

López

Fernández

Castillo

et al. 2018

Boreas

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The present study analyses the taphonomic features of recent small mammal bone and teeth accumulations recovered from pellets generated by Strix chacoensis in a Natural Protected Area in the central Monte Desert of Mendoza, Argentina. In order to identify the taphonomic signature of this predator in the formation of zooarchaeological and palaeontological accumulations, taxonomic profiles, relative abundances, bone breakage patterns and digestive corrosion were evaluated. Taphonomic results locate S. chacoensis in modification category 2 (intermediate). Although the general taphonomic patterns detected in the present study were similar to a typical owl pattern, some differences from that pattern were detected. This sample showed lesser relative abundances of skeletal elements, greater loss of teeth and a larger number of incisors modified by digestion than those generated by other strigiforms. The comparison with reported archaeological accumulations suggested that the small mammal remains recovered in some sites from the Monte Desert may correspond to the predatory activity of S. chacoensis. The identification of the action of S. chacoensis in archaeological and palaeontological small mammal bone and teeth accumulations is a promising tool to evaluate the conservation status of native forests in the past.

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“…Chiavazza , , ; García Llorca & Cahiza ; López et al . ) that have still not been studied from a taphonomic perspective, emphasizing the need for regional actualistic research, such as the present study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Taphonomic analysis of small mammal bone remains preyed upon by wildcats (Carnivora: Felidae) from the central Monte Desert (Mendoza, Argentina)

López

Rosi

Tabeni

et al. 2016

Boreas

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The present study analysed the taphonomic characteristics of small mammal bone accumulations produced by small felids in an area from the central Monte Desert (Mendoza, Argentina). In order to provide criteria to identify the role that these predators had in the formation of zooarchaeological assemblages, the anatomical representation, bone breakage patterns and degrees of digestive corrosion were evaluated. The main taphonomic results are: low average values for the relative abundance of skeletal elements; greater representation of mandibles, maxillae, isolated incisors, humeri and femora than the remaining elements; preponderance of cranial elements with high proportion of isolated teeth; elevated frequencies of proximal limb bones compared with distal parts; high degree of breakage in all skeletal elements and digestive corrosion on almost all diagnostic bones (mainly moderate and heavy). The values of the studied taphonomic variables indicate that small felids in this area made severe alterations to the bones of their prey (mainly rodents), attributable to the category of extreme modifier, while preserving enough skeletal elements to allow their taphonomic characterization. Tooth marks or grooves on bone surfaces produced by scratching and chewing were not detected. The low relative abundance of skeletal elements, the high degree of breakage and the elevated frequency of elements with digestion traces represent general taphonomic patterns that fall within those reported for other South American small carnivores.

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Small mammal remains recovered from two archaeological sites in northwestern Mendoza (Late Holocene, Argentina): Taxonomic composition, taphonomic issues and paleoenvironmental implications

Cited by 21 publications

References 41 publications

Review of the Actualistic Taphonomy of Small Mammals Ingested by South American Predators. Its Importance in the Interpretation of the Fossil Record

Review of the Actualistic Taphonomy of Small Mammals Ingested by South American Predators. Its Importance in the Interpretation of the Fossil Record

Taphonomy of small mammal bone accumulations generated by the Chaco owl (Strix chacoensis, Strigiformes) from the Monte Desert (Mendoza, Argentina): a contribution to South American archaeological and palaeontological studies

Taphonomic analysis of small mammal bone remains preyed upon by wildcats (Carnivora: Felidae) from the central Monte Desert (Mendoza, Argentina)

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