Médano La Enriqueta: un lugar de entierro de cazadores tardíos sobre el río Colorado (Dpto. Caleu Caleu, provincia de La Pampa)

Abstract

This paper presents the first results obtained on bioarchaeological and cultural evidence recovered at Médano La Enriqueta I site (MLE-I). This site is a case of human prehispanic settlement in the southern area of Caleu-Caleu Department. MLE-I is located on an active dune, in which three hollows, were found, probably related with the differential use of space by prehispanic hunter-gatherers societies, were found. human remains were recovered from one of these hollows, while in another the cultural record is a consequence of other human activities. From the archaeological analysis it was possible to estimate a MNI of nine. Two skulls with intentional deformation (tabular erect type, planolambdic variant) were recovered, whose radiocarbon chronology, assigned to the final late holocene (1005±25 years bp), agrees with other cases known in the area. Finally, a remarkable variability of cultural remains, mainly represented by lithic artifacts, pottery fragments and malacological beads (chaquiras), were recovered. The data obtained by applying different lines of analysis are discussed and integrated with previous research developed in northern Patagonia and southern La Pampa Province.