Archaeobotanical analysis of carbonized beans recovered in the late site La Estancia (Catamarca, Argentina)

Abstract

The aim of this work is to analyze the carbonized remains of Phaseolus spp. recovered in the structure number 13 of the site La Estancia, an archeological settlement of Hualfín valley located in La Puerta de San José (Prov. of Catamarca). La Estancia is constituted by 13 enclosures, semi-open spaces and retaining walls built with stone wall (pirca) placed on a knoll. The radiocarbon date obtained for this site places it occupation mainly in the XV century, in the final moments of the regional prehispanic cultural development. The sample under analysis is formed by 28 cotyledons and seeds that are taxonomically identified on the basis of their macroscopic external characters: form, extern texture, intern texture, confluence of the margins, form of the faces, form of the apex; and the morphometric characters; width and thickness. By the use of reference material and the corroboration with bibliography and illustrations of the theme it was determined that the sample belongs to the taxón Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. vulgaris.