Funerary practices of terrestrial hunter-gatherers in the Morros area (Santa Cruz, Argentina - Magallanes, Chile): an evaluation from archaeothanatology
This study presents a re-evaluation of two terrestrial hunter-gatherer burial contexts excavated during the 1950s and 1960s at the summits of Morro Chico and Morro Philippi, located in the border region between Magallanes (Chile) and Santa Cruz (Argentina). Although the bioanthropological material r...
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| Autores principales: | , , |
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| Formato: | Artículo revista |
| Lenguaje: | Español |
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Instituto de Arqueología, Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Universidad de Buenos Aires
2026
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://revistascientificas.filo.uba.ar/index.php/Arqueologia/article/view/16798 |
| Aporte de: |
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I28-R243-article-16798 |
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| record_format |
ojs |
| institution |
Universidad de Buenos Aires |
| institution_str |
I-28 |
| repository_str |
R-243 |
| container_title_str |
Arqueología |
| language |
Español |
| format |
Artículo revista |
| topic |
Morro Chico Morro Philippi Chenque Prácticas mortuorias Fuegp - Patagonia Morro Chico Morro Philippi Chenque Mortuary practices Fuego - Patagonia |
| spellingShingle |
Morro Chico Morro Philippi Chenque Prácticas mortuorias Fuegp - Patagonia Morro Chico Morro Philippi Chenque Mortuary practices Fuego - Patagonia Palacios, Cristóbal Martin, Fabiana Sierpe, Víctor Palacios, Cristóbal Martin, Fabiana Sierpe, Víctor Funerary practices of terrestrial hunter-gatherers in the Morros area (Santa Cruz, Argentina - Magallanes, Chile): an evaluation from archaeothanatology |
| topic_facet |
Morro Chico Morro Philippi Chenque Prácticas mortuorias Fuegp - Patagonia Morro Chico Morro Philippi Chenque Mortuary practices Fuego - Patagonia |
| author |
Palacios, Cristóbal Martin, Fabiana Sierpe, Víctor Palacios, Cristóbal Martin, Fabiana Sierpe, Víctor |
| author_facet |
Palacios, Cristóbal Martin, Fabiana Sierpe, Víctor Palacios, Cristóbal Martin, Fabiana Sierpe, Víctor |
| author_sort |
Palacios, Cristóbal |
| title |
Funerary practices of terrestrial hunter-gatherers in the Morros area (Santa Cruz, Argentina - Magallanes, Chile): an evaluation from archaeothanatology |
| title_short |
Funerary practices of terrestrial hunter-gatherers in the Morros area (Santa Cruz, Argentina - Magallanes, Chile): an evaluation from archaeothanatology |
| title_full |
Funerary practices of terrestrial hunter-gatherers in the Morros area (Santa Cruz, Argentina - Magallanes, Chile): an evaluation from archaeothanatology |
| title_fullStr |
Funerary practices of terrestrial hunter-gatherers in the Morros area (Santa Cruz, Argentina - Magallanes, Chile): an evaluation from archaeothanatology |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Funerary practices of terrestrial hunter-gatherers in the Morros area (Santa Cruz, Argentina - Magallanes, Chile): an evaluation from archaeothanatology |
| title_sort |
funerary practices of terrestrial hunter-gatherers in the morros area (santa cruz, argentina - magallanes, chile): an evaluation from archaeothanatology |
| description |
This study presents a re-evaluation of two terrestrial hunter-gatherer burial contexts excavated during the 1950s and 1960s at the summits of Morro Chico and Morro Philippi, located in the border region between Magallanes (Chile) and Santa Cruz (Argentina). Although the bioanthropological material recovered in both cases is currently missing, the application of an archaeothanatological approach, based on documentary sources, photographic records, and new field evidence, allowed the recovery of fresh insights into these funerary practices. The excavation of a test pit at the summit of Morro Chico in late 2023 yielded burned bone fragments, ochre, and lithics with thermal alteration, which helped to identify the original location of the funerary context. At Morro Philippi, the analysis of photographic and documentary records confirmed that, at the time of excavation, the site contained the skeletal remains of more than three individuals, contrary to earlier claims by other authors. The results suggest that the construction of chenques on the morros required considerable energy investment, reflecting a late-period association between the selection of funerary locations and their social significance. Although their precise dating remains uncertain, the funerary practices documented, and the associated cultural materials indicate that both contexts can be attributed to the Late Holocene. |
| publisher |
Instituto de Arqueología, Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Universidad de Buenos Aires |
| publishDate |
2026 |
| url |
https://revistascientificas.filo.uba.ar/index.php/Arqueologia/article/view/16798 |
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I28-R243-article-167982026-02-09T22:56:03Z Funerary practices of terrestrial hunter-gatherers in the Morros area (Santa Cruz, Argentina - Magallanes, Chile): an evaluation from archaeothanatology Prácticas funerarias de cazadores-recolectores terrestres en la zona de los morros (Santa Cruz, Argentina – Magallanes, Chile): una evaluación desde la arqueotanatología Palacios, Cristóbal Martin, Fabiana Sierpe, Víctor Palacios, Cristóbal Martin, Fabiana Sierpe, Víctor Morro Chico Morro Philippi Chenque Prácticas mortuorias Fuegp - Patagonia Morro Chico Morro Philippi Chenque Mortuary practices Fuego - Patagonia This study presents a re-evaluation of two terrestrial hunter-gatherer burial contexts excavated during the 1950s and 1960s at the summits of Morro Chico and Morro Philippi, located in the border region between Magallanes (Chile) and Santa Cruz (Argentina). Although the bioanthropological material recovered in both cases is currently missing, the application of an archaeothanatological approach, based on documentary sources, photographic records, and new field evidence, allowed the recovery of fresh insights into these funerary practices. The excavation of a test pit at the summit of Morro Chico in late 2023 yielded burned bone fragments, ochre, and lithics with thermal alteration, which helped to identify the original location of the funerary context. At Morro Philippi, the analysis of photographic and documentary records confirmed that, at the time of excavation, the site contained the skeletal remains of more than three individuals, contrary to earlier claims by other authors. The results suggest that the construction of chenques on the morros required considerable energy investment, reflecting a late-period association between the selection of funerary locations and their social significance. Although their precise dating remains uncertain, the funerary practices documented, and the associated cultural materials indicate that both contexts can be attributed to the Late Holocene. El presente estudio corresponde a una reevaluación de dos contextos funerarios de cazadores-recolectores terrestres excavados entre las décadas de 1950 y 1960 en la cima de los morros Chico y Philippi, ubicados en la región limítrofe entre Magallanes (Chile) y Santa Cruz (Argentina). Si bien en la actualidad el material bioantropológico asociado a ambos casos se encuentra extraviado, el uso de un enfoque arqueotanatológico basado en el análisis de fuentes documentales, registros fotográficos y nuevas evidencias de campo facilitó la obtención de nuevos datos sobre estos tratamientos funerarios. La excavación de un pozo de sondeo arqueológico en la cumbre de morro Chico a fines del año 2023 hizo posible la recuperación de fragmentos óseos quemados, pigmento ocre y líticos termoalterados, evidencias que contribuyeron a identificar la ubicación original del contexto funerario. En morro Philippi, el análisis del registro fotográfico y documental permitió confirmar que al momento de la excavación el sitio presentaba los restos óseos de más de tres individuos, contrario a lo presentado previamente por otros autores. Los resultados indican que la construcción de chenques en los morros habría implicado una inversión energética significativa, evidenciando una relación hacia momentos tardíos entre la elección de lugares para realizar el tratamiento funerario y la importancia social de estos. Si bien su datación exacta es incierta, las prácticas funerarias registradas y los materiales culturales recuperados sugieren la adscripción de ambos contextos al Holoceno tardío. Instituto de Arqueología, Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Universidad de Buenos Aires 2026-02-09 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion application/pdf text/html https://revistascientificas.filo.uba.ar/index.php/Arqueologia/article/view/16798 10.34096/arqueologia.t32.n1.16798 Arqueología; Vol. 32 No. 1 (2026): Vol. 32(1); 16798 Arqueología; Vol. 32 Núm. 1 (2026): enero - abril; 16798 1853-8126 0327-5159 spa https://revistascientificas.filo.uba.ar/index.php/Arqueologia/article/view/16798/15851 https://revistascientificas.filo.uba.ar/index.php/Arqueologia/article/view/16798/15858 Derechos de autor 2026 Cristóbal Palacios, Fabiana Martin, Víctor Sierpe https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0 |