Browsing by Author "Méndez Muñoz, Víctor Andrés"

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    Pedernales-5: An enclave for flamingo (Phoenicopteridae) exploitation during the Early Holocene in the Chilean southern Puna (26°S-69°W)
    (SAGE Publications, 2024) López, Patricio; Loyola, Rodrigo; Carrasco, Carlos; Roa Solís, Constanza; Varas, Daniel; Santana Sagredo, Francisca; Méndez Muñoz, Víctor Andrés; Bravo, Gabriela; Latorre, Elvira; Sáez, Alina; Orrego, Vanessa; Sperling, Ariel
    We present the results of an interdisciplinary study conducted at the Pedernales-5 site, situated in the Salar de Pedernales basin (26°S; 3356 masl), dated from 10,510−10,749 to 11,201−11,612 cal. BP. Unlike other Late Pleistocene and Holocene sites in the Andean Puna, where vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna) were the primary prey, at Pedernales-5, the zooarcheological assemblage consists almost exclusively of flamingo (Phoenicopteridae) and bird remains. Through the analysis of lithic and bone artifacts, archeobotanical remains, pigment composition, and paleoenvironmental data, we propose that the emphasis on flamingo exploitation cannot be solely explained by alimentary consumption but also served cultural and symbolic purposes related to the acquisition of feathers, hides, and bones. The unique archeological context of Pedernales-5 offers a distinctive perspective on human dynamics in the Andean highlands during the Early Holocene.
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    Technological and Protein Residue Analysis on Ancient Stemmed Projectile Points of the Southern Andes Highlands
    (2024) Loyola, Rodrigo; López-Mendoza, Patricio; Carrasco, Carlos; Walker, Cam; Fagan, John; Méndez Muñoz, Víctor Andrés; Santana Sagredo, Francisca; Flores Aqueveque, Valentina; Soto, Angélica
    We present the results of technological and protein residue analyses of the lithic assemblagesrecovered at the Pedernales-38 site (26.5°S; 69°W), located in the highlands of the southernAndes (3380 masl). Based on a reconstruction of the operational chains and the differentialrepresentation of their phases, we suggest that the final production, use, maintenance, anddiscard of large stemmed projectile points occurred at the site. Of the assemblage studied, nine(9) projectile points and one end-scraper were subjected to residue analysis using cross-overimmunoelectrophoresis (CIEP). Four positive reactions to antisera of human, camelid (guanacoor vicuña) and canid (Andean fox) were recorded. The results are discussed based on thedepositional context and the structure of the archeological record. We propose that Pedernalesprojectile points were mainly used in hunting weapons to capture wild camelids during theseasonal occupation of the Andes highlands