Interspecific identification of camelids in Ambato valley (Catamarca, Argentina): an approach to the issue from different analytical frameworks

Interspecific identification of camelids and distinction between llamas’ morphotypes in bone materials from archaeological sites are two major aspects in zooarchaeological studies of northwestern Argentina and the Andean region in general. This paper aims at contributing to the issue along different...

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Autor principal: Dantas, Mariana
Formato: Artículo revista
Lenguaje:Español
Publicado: Facultad de Filosofía y Humanidades. Museo de Antropología 2012
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Acceso en línea:https://revistas.unc.edu.ar/index.php/antropologia/article/view/9197
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Sumario:Interspecific identification of camelids and distinction between llamas’ morphotypes in bone materials from archaeological sites are two major aspects in zooarchaeological studies of northwestern Argentina and the Andean region in general. This paper aims at contributing to the issue along different analytical approaches applied to camelids remains from Ambato Valley, Catamarca, between the 6th and 10th centuries AD. Thus, the integration of osteometric and stable isotope studies allowed establishing/confirming the presence of domestic camelids in this valley, based on their relative size and a selective diet mostly derived from C4 plants. It was also possible to distinguish two probably differently-sized groups of animals: one of larger animals or large llamas, and one of smaller size or small llamas, whose dimensions overlap with those of North Andean guanacos. A combination of both analyses allowed reaching a degree of differentiation not possible otherwise