The zooarchaeological record of the North stretch of Middle Paraná River, left margin (Corrientes, Argentina)

Abstract

This paper presents a summary of the macroscopic analysis of faunal material recovered from five archaeological sites located in Middle Paraná alluvial plain (Corrientes, Argentina). The aim of this work is to understand the formation processes, especially regarding evidence of anthropic modifications, as well as to evaluate the variability within the zooarchaeological assemblages studied. The results show that physical and chemical constraints of a seasonally wet humid subtropical environment were the main agents that caused limitations of data sets. Nevertheless, anthropic modifications support that the faunal record is product of human action. Through the information presented, it is possible to record a whole use of a wide range of taxa, with a highlighted exploitation of aquatic animals together with some land animals with a certain grade of dependence to aquatic environment; taxa that are available throughout the year. Generalizations of the archeological record from Middle Paraná River were considered in the data interpretation.