Lithic technology at the mouth of Santa Cruz river. An approach from the analysis of the artifactual assemblage of Puntos 37 y 96 of Punta Entrada

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present the information generated from the analysis of the lithic materials recovered in the archaeological concentrations called Punto 37 and Punto 96, which are located at the archaeological locality Punta Entrada (Santa Cruz, Argentina) to discuss the technological strategies used by past populations and to infer the decisions of the hunter-gatherers regarding the way lithic raw materials and artifacts were treated. This analysis shows that the sequence of lithic reduction was completed at both concentrations. The lithic artifacts show a tendency to an expedient strategy, as evidenced by the discard of large-sized cores, the predominant use of local raw material, the manufacture of low-energy cost tools and finally, the discard of tools with active edges and worn out instruments but with reactivation possibilities. This paper seeks to contribute to the study of Patagonian coastal occupations, which show highly variable characteristics along the space, such as the composition of lithic assemblage and the resources management.