The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 2023
The biodiversity of animal species in the Ultima Esperanza inland sea (Magallanes region, Chile) ... more The biodiversity of animal species in the Ultima Esperanza inland sea (Magallanes region, Chile) provides an exceptional opportunity to study the economic and organizational strategies of maritime hunter-gatherer groups in the Fuego-Patagonian archipelago. The consumption of huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) in Southern South America is well documented since the Middle Holocene, although its role in the subsistence strategies of maritime hunter-gatherers varies depending on the geographical and environmental area. The aim of this paper is to assess the implications of huemul exploitation on organizational strategies by Late Holocene maritime hunter-gatherer groups from the Ultima Esperanza inland sea (Magallanes region, Chile). In this work we present the results of a zooarchaeological analysis of the huemul assemblage from the sites of Bah ıa Easter 1 and Bah ıa Easter 2 (Diego Portales Island, Ultima Esperanza, Chile). The results show the high importance of huemul in the maritime hunter-gatherer diet, and provide new insights into the hunting and transport strategies of this prey. Furthermore, the integration of the data within the local and regional archaeological record allowed us to identify similarities at the scale of the inland sea, where huemul was frequently exploited both in island and coastal environments in contrast to what is documented in the neighboring Skyring Sea and Otway Sea.
Resumen. Desde las primeras exploraciones europeas al estrecho de Magallanes se advirtió la exist... more Resumen. Desde las primeras exploraciones europeas al estrecho de Magallanes se advirtió la existencia de poblaciones indígenas que empleaban canoas para desplazarse. Estas poblaciones cazadoras recolectoras marinas fueron ampliamente descritas en las crónicas de navegantes europeos a partir del siglo XVI. En este trabajo presentamos los resultados de un análisis de 506 avistamientos de canoas registrados en diferentes fuentes entre 1520 y 1960 en la vertiente Pacífico de la Patagonia austral y Tierra del Fuego, con el fin de determinar la variabilidad espacio-temporal de las canoas indígenas, así como estudiar aspectos tecnológicos y patrones en las estrategias de navegación. Los resultados señalan cambios en la tecnología de navegación y las prácticas náuticas indígenas a partir del siglo XVIII, producto de la aparición de la dalka y la canoa monóxila debido a eventuales migraciones, al contacto intercultural y a los procesos de aculturación. Palabras clave: canoas; navegación indígena; cazadores-recolectores marítimos; Patagonia Austral; Tierra del Fuego; cambio cultural.
Caracterizar las estrategias de movilidad de las sociedades cazadoras-recolectoras-pescadoras en ... more Caracterizar las estrategias de movilidad de las sociedades cazadoras-recolectoras-pescadoras en ambientes insulares y litorales es fundamental para comprender la interacción humano-ambiental en el pasado. Las prospecciones en el noreste de la isla Diego Portales, en el mar interior de Última Esperanza (Magallanes, Chile), han permitido documentar ocho yacimientos arqueológicos formados por uno o varios conchales. Todos ellos se hallan ubicados en áreas de la costa al resguardo del viento dominante y con fácil acceso mediante embarcación. Los trabajos arqueológicos en dos de estos yacimientos (Bahía Easter 1 y 2) indican una estrategia de subsistencia similar durante el Holoceno tardío final, basada en el aprovechamiento de la biodiversidad de este ambiente de ecotono, con más de una docena de recursos marinos y terrestres consumidos. Entre éstas destaca en abundancia el huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus), probablemente cazado en el litoral continental. Teniendo en cuenta las dinámicas de poblamiento y movilidad propuestas desde la etnografía o la arqueología para otras áreas del archipiélago fuego-patagónico, los resultados permiten discutir la reocupación sucesiva de puntos estratégicos de la isla, particularmente en primavera-verano, cuando la encrucijada de caminos y recursos que representa el mar interior de Última Esperanza presentaba alicientes significativos para las comunidades canoeras. Palabras clave: cazadores-recolectores-pescadores, Patagonia, América del Sur, Holoceno tardío, estrategia de movilidad, ambientes costeros Characterizing hunter-fisher-gatherer mobility strategies in island and coastal environments is key to understanding past human-environment interaction. Seafaring communities inhabiting the inland sea of Última Esperanza (Magallanes, Chile) maintained a subsistence strategy focused on hunting, gathering, and fishing until the beginning of the twentieth century. In this work we present the new archaeological findings from Diego Portales island (Almirante Montt Gulf) and discuss subsistence and mobility strategies in the context of the regional archaeological record. The systematic survey of the northeast tip of the island allowed us to record eight archaeological shell midden sites, on both the east and west coasts. Site location was determined by geotopographic factors. The excavation of two of the sites, Bahía Easter 1 and Bahía Easter 2, has provided evidence of occupation dating to the Final Late Holocene and covering a time span of almost 2,000 years. These two sites are associated with hunter-fisher-gatherer seafaring peoples who repeatedly frequented the area. Archaeozoological and archaeobotanical studies suggest a subsistence strategy based on the exploitation of at least a dozen different species of marine and terrestrial resources. Among the latter, the archaeological remains of huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) are particularly abundant. These mid-sized deer were probably hunted at the Patagonian coast and transported to the island. The location of the island, in a transit area between the external channels and the inland sea, and between the northern archipelagos and the continent, together with resource abundance and diversity, suggest that Diego Portales was a privileged area for seafaring occupation, especially in spring and summer.
RESUMEN Localizado en la vertiente oriental de los Andes (Aisén, Chile) el valle del río Ibáñez p... more RESUMEN Localizado en la vertiente oriental de los Andes (Aisén, Chile) el valle del río Ibáñez presenta una gran diversidad ambiental en un espacio relativamente pequeño y confinado. No es sólo que se trate de un valle sin acceso al Pacífico y aislado por altas cumbres de las cuencas aledañas, sino que presenta características arqueológicas propias, distinguiéndose sobre todo por la abundancia de pinturas rupestres de un mismo tipo y por una ocupación relativamente acotada en el tiempo. Con el fin de poner a prueba la hipótesis de que en este valle existió en uno o varios momentos un sistema sociocultural relativamente cerrado, se prospectaron los alrededores de la zona donde se conoce la mayor cantidad de sitios. En este trabajo se dan a conocer los resultados de prospecciones sistemáticas y excavaciones de sondeo llevadas a cabo para evaluar los posibles límites del sistema cultural. ABSTRACT Located on the eastern slopes of the Central Patagonian Andes (Aisén, Chile), the Río Ibáñez valley encompasses a rich diversity of environments within short distances. This relatively bounded geographic space-separated from the Pacific and neighboring valleys by high mountain ranges-is further enhanced by a particular archeological record, most notoriously characterized by abundant rock paintings of great homogeneity within a bounded period of human occupations. With the aim of testing the likely existence of relatively closed, discrete cultural systems in prehistory, areas surrounding the main known concentration of archaeological sites were surveyed. Herein we report
The middle Río Ibáñez valley (XI Región de Aysén, Chile) presents a very rugged relief, being cha... more The middle Río Ibáñez valley (XI Región de Aysén, Chile) presents a very rugged relief, being characterized by mountains, forests, lakes and rivers that make it drastically different to the steppe plains east of the Buenos Aires/General Carrera lake. These natural characteristics could have acted as a barrier for human movement in the past and may have favored circumscription and the emergence of specific cultural tendencies. Recent surveys on the area have been performed according to a flexible design geared towards minimizing the many factors that hamper finding archaeological materials (ie. surface visibility, transitability). They have targeted likely “limit areas” in order to test the hypothesis of a restricted cultural system in the middle Río Ibáñez valley. Results show a relatively weak archaeological signal on these limits zones, although in some aspects (eg. rock art motifs) this is specific while in others (eg. lithic technology) it is more generalist.
THE WESTERN FRONTIER? ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEYS IN THE MOUNTAIN FORESTS OF THE MIDDLE
VALLEY OF THE ... more THE WESTERN FRONTIER? ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEYS IN THE MOUNTAIN FORESTS OF THE MIDDLE VALLEY OF THE IBÁÑEZ RIVER (PATAGONIAN ANDES, CHILE). As a way to test the western boundary of the archaeological distribution observed in the valley of the middle section of the Ibáñez River, a design of a systematic archaeological survey was developed. The aim of this paper is to present the survey design used and its application to a challenging area characterized by wooded mountains, with difficult access and poor visibility. The survey of a sample of the study area, allowed the identification of several archaeological items, ranging from isolated finds to artifact concentrations and rockshelters with paintings. It also allowed the systematic recording of other already known sites. These findings challenge the assumption that this section of the valley corresponds to an absolute limit for archaeological distributions; thus leading to new questions and research activities. Although the original survey design could not be applied without modification, we consider that the practice was successful. The flexible and judicious application of this survey design actually led to new findings and offered a tool to test an assumption about the distribution of material evidence of a cultural system.
Como una forma de poner a prueba el límite occidental de la distribución arqueológica observada e... more Como una forma de poner a prueba el límite occidental de la distribución arqueológica observada en el valle del curso medio del río Ibáñez, en el marco de un proyecto de investigación desarrollamos un plan de prospecciones sistemáticas. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar el diseño de prospección utilizado y la forma de resolver los desafíos del trabajo de campo, en un área caracterizada por montañas cubiertas de bosque, con baja accesibilidad y visibilidad. La prospección de una muestra del área de estudio permitió identificar diversas evidencias arqueológicas entre hallazgos aislados, concentraciones de artefactos, aleros con pinturas rupestres, además del registro sistemático de otros sitios ya conocidos. Estos resultados cuestionaron el supuesto de que la sección occidental del valle del curso medio del río Ibáñez correspondería a una frontera absoluta para las distribuciones arqueológicas, y condujeron a nuevas preguntas y actividades de investigación. Pese a que el diseño metodológico original no pudo ser aplicado sin modificaciones, consideramos que la experiencia fue exitosa y que su aplicación flexible y criteriosa condujo a nuevos hallazgos y ofreció una herramienta para poner a prueba un supuesto sobre la distribución de las evidencias materiales de un sistema cultural.
The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 2023
The biodiversity of animal species in the Ultima Esperanza inland sea (Magallanes region, Chile) ... more The biodiversity of animal species in the Ultima Esperanza inland sea (Magallanes region, Chile) provides an exceptional opportunity to study the economic and organizational strategies of maritime hunter-gatherer groups in the Fuego-Patagonian archipelago. The consumption of huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) in Southern South America is well documented since the Middle Holocene, although its role in the subsistence strategies of maritime hunter-gatherers varies depending on the geographical and environmental area. The aim of this paper is to assess the implications of huemul exploitation on organizational strategies by Late Holocene maritime hunter-gatherer groups from the Ultima Esperanza inland sea (Magallanes region, Chile). In this work we present the results of a zooarchaeological analysis of the huemul assemblage from the sites of Bah ıa Easter 1 and Bah ıa Easter 2 (Diego Portales Island, Ultima Esperanza, Chile). The results show the high importance of huemul in the maritime hunter-gatherer diet, and provide new insights into the hunting and transport strategies of this prey. Furthermore, the integration of the data within the local and regional archaeological record allowed us to identify similarities at the scale of the inland sea, where huemul was frequently exploited both in island and coastal environments in contrast to what is documented in the neighboring Skyring Sea and Otway Sea.
Resumen. Desde las primeras exploraciones europeas al estrecho de Magallanes se advirtió la exist... more Resumen. Desde las primeras exploraciones europeas al estrecho de Magallanes se advirtió la existencia de poblaciones indígenas que empleaban canoas para desplazarse. Estas poblaciones cazadoras recolectoras marinas fueron ampliamente descritas en las crónicas de navegantes europeos a partir del siglo XVI. En este trabajo presentamos los resultados de un análisis de 506 avistamientos de canoas registrados en diferentes fuentes entre 1520 y 1960 en la vertiente Pacífico de la Patagonia austral y Tierra del Fuego, con el fin de determinar la variabilidad espacio-temporal de las canoas indígenas, así como estudiar aspectos tecnológicos y patrones en las estrategias de navegación. Los resultados señalan cambios en la tecnología de navegación y las prácticas náuticas indígenas a partir del siglo XVIII, producto de la aparición de la dalka y la canoa monóxila debido a eventuales migraciones, al contacto intercultural y a los procesos de aculturación. Palabras clave: canoas; navegación indígena; cazadores-recolectores marítimos; Patagonia Austral; Tierra del Fuego; cambio cultural.
Caracterizar las estrategias de movilidad de las sociedades cazadoras-recolectoras-pescadoras en ... more Caracterizar las estrategias de movilidad de las sociedades cazadoras-recolectoras-pescadoras en ambientes insulares y litorales es fundamental para comprender la interacción humano-ambiental en el pasado. Las prospecciones en el noreste de la isla Diego Portales, en el mar interior de Última Esperanza (Magallanes, Chile), han permitido documentar ocho yacimientos arqueológicos formados por uno o varios conchales. Todos ellos se hallan ubicados en áreas de la costa al resguardo del viento dominante y con fácil acceso mediante embarcación. Los trabajos arqueológicos en dos de estos yacimientos (Bahía Easter 1 y 2) indican una estrategia de subsistencia similar durante el Holoceno tardío final, basada en el aprovechamiento de la biodiversidad de este ambiente de ecotono, con más de una docena de recursos marinos y terrestres consumidos. Entre éstas destaca en abundancia el huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus), probablemente cazado en el litoral continental. Teniendo en cuenta las dinámicas de poblamiento y movilidad propuestas desde la etnografía o la arqueología para otras áreas del archipiélago fuego-patagónico, los resultados permiten discutir la reocupación sucesiva de puntos estratégicos de la isla, particularmente en primavera-verano, cuando la encrucijada de caminos y recursos que representa el mar interior de Última Esperanza presentaba alicientes significativos para las comunidades canoeras. Palabras clave: cazadores-recolectores-pescadores, Patagonia, América del Sur, Holoceno tardío, estrategia de movilidad, ambientes costeros Characterizing hunter-fisher-gatherer mobility strategies in island and coastal environments is key to understanding past human-environment interaction. Seafaring communities inhabiting the inland sea of Última Esperanza (Magallanes, Chile) maintained a subsistence strategy focused on hunting, gathering, and fishing until the beginning of the twentieth century. In this work we present the new archaeological findings from Diego Portales island (Almirante Montt Gulf) and discuss subsistence and mobility strategies in the context of the regional archaeological record. The systematic survey of the northeast tip of the island allowed us to record eight archaeological shell midden sites, on both the east and west coasts. Site location was determined by geotopographic factors. The excavation of two of the sites, Bahía Easter 1 and Bahía Easter 2, has provided evidence of occupation dating to the Final Late Holocene and covering a time span of almost 2,000 years. These two sites are associated with hunter-fisher-gatherer seafaring peoples who repeatedly frequented the area. Archaeozoological and archaeobotanical studies suggest a subsistence strategy based on the exploitation of at least a dozen different species of marine and terrestrial resources. Among the latter, the archaeological remains of huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) are particularly abundant. These mid-sized deer were probably hunted at the Patagonian coast and transported to the island. The location of the island, in a transit area between the external channels and the inland sea, and between the northern archipelagos and the continent, together with resource abundance and diversity, suggest that Diego Portales was a privileged area for seafaring occupation, especially in spring and summer.
RESUMEN Localizado en la vertiente oriental de los Andes (Aisén, Chile) el valle del río Ibáñez p... more RESUMEN Localizado en la vertiente oriental de los Andes (Aisén, Chile) el valle del río Ibáñez presenta una gran diversidad ambiental en un espacio relativamente pequeño y confinado. No es sólo que se trate de un valle sin acceso al Pacífico y aislado por altas cumbres de las cuencas aledañas, sino que presenta características arqueológicas propias, distinguiéndose sobre todo por la abundancia de pinturas rupestres de un mismo tipo y por una ocupación relativamente acotada en el tiempo. Con el fin de poner a prueba la hipótesis de que en este valle existió en uno o varios momentos un sistema sociocultural relativamente cerrado, se prospectaron los alrededores de la zona donde se conoce la mayor cantidad de sitios. En este trabajo se dan a conocer los resultados de prospecciones sistemáticas y excavaciones de sondeo llevadas a cabo para evaluar los posibles límites del sistema cultural. ABSTRACT Located on the eastern slopes of the Central Patagonian Andes (Aisén, Chile), the Río Ibáñez valley encompasses a rich diversity of environments within short distances. This relatively bounded geographic space-separated from the Pacific and neighboring valleys by high mountain ranges-is further enhanced by a particular archeological record, most notoriously characterized by abundant rock paintings of great homogeneity within a bounded period of human occupations. With the aim of testing the likely existence of relatively closed, discrete cultural systems in prehistory, areas surrounding the main known concentration of archaeological sites were surveyed. Herein we report
The middle Río Ibáñez valley (XI Región de Aysén, Chile) presents a very rugged relief, being cha... more The middle Río Ibáñez valley (XI Región de Aysén, Chile) presents a very rugged relief, being characterized by mountains, forests, lakes and rivers that make it drastically different to the steppe plains east of the Buenos Aires/General Carrera lake. These natural characteristics could have acted as a barrier for human movement in the past and may have favored circumscription and the emergence of specific cultural tendencies. Recent surveys on the area have been performed according to a flexible design geared towards minimizing the many factors that hamper finding archaeological materials (ie. surface visibility, transitability). They have targeted likely “limit areas” in order to test the hypothesis of a restricted cultural system in the middle Río Ibáñez valley. Results show a relatively weak archaeological signal on these limits zones, although in some aspects (eg. rock art motifs) this is specific while in others (eg. lithic technology) it is more generalist.
THE WESTERN FRONTIER? ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEYS IN THE MOUNTAIN FORESTS OF THE MIDDLE
VALLEY OF THE ... more THE WESTERN FRONTIER? ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEYS IN THE MOUNTAIN FORESTS OF THE MIDDLE VALLEY OF THE IBÁÑEZ RIVER (PATAGONIAN ANDES, CHILE). As a way to test the western boundary of the archaeological distribution observed in the valley of the middle section of the Ibáñez River, a design of a systematic archaeological survey was developed. The aim of this paper is to present the survey design used and its application to a challenging area characterized by wooded mountains, with difficult access and poor visibility. The survey of a sample of the study area, allowed the identification of several archaeological items, ranging from isolated finds to artifact concentrations and rockshelters with paintings. It also allowed the systematic recording of other already known sites. These findings challenge the assumption that this section of the valley corresponds to an absolute limit for archaeological distributions; thus leading to new questions and research activities. Although the original survey design could not be applied without modification, we consider that the practice was successful. The flexible and judicious application of this survey design actually led to new findings and offered a tool to test an assumption about the distribution of material evidence of a cultural system.
Como una forma de poner a prueba el límite occidental de la distribución arqueológica observada e... more Como una forma de poner a prueba el límite occidental de la distribución arqueológica observada en el valle del curso medio del río Ibáñez, en el marco de un proyecto de investigación desarrollamos un plan de prospecciones sistemáticas. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar el diseño de prospección utilizado y la forma de resolver los desafíos del trabajo de campo, en un área caracterizada por montañas cubiertas de bosque, con baja accesibilidad y visibilidad. La prospección de una muestra del área de estudio permitió identificar diversas evidencias arqueológicas entre hallazgos aislados, concentraciones de artefactos, aleros con pinturas rupestres, además del registro sistemático de otros sitios ya conocidos. Estos resultados cuestionaron el supuesto de que la sección occidental del valle del curso medio del río Ibáñez correspondería a una frontera absoluta para las distribuciones arqueológicas, y condujeron a nuevas preguntas y actividades de investigación. Pese a que el diseño metodológico original no pudo ser aplicado sin modificaciones, consideramos que la experiencia fue exitosa y que su aplicación flexible y criteriosa condujo a nuevos hallazgos y ofreció una herramienta para poner a prueba un supuesto sobre la distribución de las evidencias materiales de un sistema cultural.
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Papers by Christian Garcia
acted as a barrier for human movement in the past and may have favored circumscription and the emergence of specific cultural tendencies. Recent surveys on the area have been performed according
to a flexible design geared towards minimizing the many factors that hamper finding archaeological materials (ie. surface visibility, transitability). They have targeted likely “limit areas” in order to test the hypothesis of a restricted cultural system in the middle Río Ibáñez valley. Results show a relatively weak archaeological signal on these limits zones, although in some aspects (eg. rock art motifs) this is specific while in others (eg. lithic technology) it is more generalist.
VALLEY OF THE IBÁÑEZ RIVER (PATAGONIAN ANDES, CHILE). As a way to test the western boundary of
the archaeological distribution observed in the valley of the middle section of the Ibáñez River, a design of a
systematic archaeological survey was developed. The aim of this paper is to present the survey design used
and its application to a challenging area characterized by wooded mountains, with difficult access and poor
visibility. The survey of a sample of the study area, allowed the identification of several archaeological items,
ranging from isolated finds to artifact concentrations and rockshelters with paintings. It also allowed the systematic
recording of other already known sites. These findings challenge the assumption that this section of the valley
corresponds to an absolute limit for archaeological distributions; thus leading to new questions and research
activities. Although the original survey design could not be applied without modification, we consider that the
practice was successful. The flexible and judicious application of this survey design actually led to new findings
and offered a tool to test an assumption about the distribution of material evidence of a cultural system.
la sección occidental del valle del curso medio del río Ibáñez correspondería a una frontera absoluta para las distribuciones arqueológicas, y condujeron a nuevas preguntas y actividades de investigación. Pese a que el diseño metodológico original no pudo ser aplicado sin modificaciones, consideramos que la experiencia fue
exitosa y que su aplicación flexible y criteriosa condujo a nuevos hallazgos y ofreció una herramienta para poner a prueba un supuesto sobre la distribución de las evidencias materiales de un sistema cultural.
acted as a barrier for human movement in the past and may have favored circumscription and the emergence of specific cultural tendencies. Recent surveys on the area have been performed according
to a flexible design geared towards minimizing the many factors that hamper finding archaeological materials (ie. surface visibility, transitability). They have targeted likely “limit areas” in order to test the hypothesis of a restricted cultural system in the middle Río Ibáñez valley. Results show a relatively weak archaeological signal on these limits zones, although in some aspects (eg. rock art motifs) this is specific while in others (eg. lithic technology) it is more generalist.
VALLEY OF THE IBÁÑEZ RIVER (PATAGONIAN ANDES, CHILE). As a way to test the western boundary of
the archaeological distribution observed in the valley of the middle section of the Ibáñez River, a design of a
systematic archaeological survey was developed. The aim of this paper is to present the survey design used
and its application to a challenging area characterized by wooded mountains, with difficult access and poor
visibility. The survey of a sample of the study area, allowed the identification of several archaeological items,
ranging from isolated finds to artifact concentrations and rockshelters with paintings. It also allowed the systematic
recording of other already known sites. These findings challenge the assumption that this section of the valley
corresponds to an absolute limit for archaeological distributions; thus leading to new questions and research
activities. Although the original survey design could not be applied without modification, we consider that the
practice was successful. The flexible and judicious application of this survey design actually led to new findings
and offered a tool to test an assumption about the distribution of material evidence of a cultural system.
la sección occidental del valle del curso medio del río Ibáñez correspondería a una frontera absoluta para las distribuciones arqueológicas, y condujeron a nuevas preguntas y actividades de investigación. Pese a que el diseño metodológico original no pudo ser aplicado sin modificaciones, consideramos que la experiencia fue
exitosa y que su aplicación flexible y criteriosa condujo a nuevos hallazgos y ofreció una herramienta para poner a prueba un supuesto sobre la distribución de las evidencias materiales de un sistema cultural.