The role of burrowing animals at the Laguna del Indio site (Interserrana bonaerense area, Argentina)
Abstract
Laguna del Indio site is located near of the homonymous lagoon (Coronel Suárez district, Buenos Aires province). The analyses performed suggest that the site was a residential camp associated with the lagoon, where different domestic activities were carried out during the middle and late Holocene, such as the manufacture of lithic artifacts and the processing and cooking of animal and plant species. During the excavation activity, bioturbated sediments were observed, which could be the result of the action of different biological agents (e.g., roots, animals of subterranean/burrowing habits). In relation to this, one of the particularities of the excavated context was the finding of a large number of digging structures produced by mammals with burrowing habitats (e.g., rodents and armadillos). As the activity of burrowing animals produces a significant disturbance in the sedimentary structure, it is possible that their presence has caused an alteration in the distribution of archaeological materials. This paper evaluates the influence of these agents on the integrity and resolution of the record. The study carried out allowed to understand the taphonomic history of the assemblage recovered at the site. The results obtained showed that the archaeological context was highly disturbed by the action of burrowing animals such as rodents and armadillos. Consequently, the site has a low resolution and poor integrity, which makes it impossible to discriminate and characterize the Middle and Late Holocene occupations.Downloads
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