From mounds to landscapes: the transformation processes and the construction of landscapes in southern la plata basin

Abstract

Through a comparative study, we analyze the role of mound building in the configuration of two particular types of archaeological landscapes: the monumental earthen structures (cerritos) of the wetlands of Northeast Uruguay and the human-made earthen mounds of the islands and littoral environments of the Delta of the Paraná River, Argentina. Based on the results of archaeologica surveys and excavations of mound sites from both regions, the origin of these pre-Hispanic manifestations, the site formation processes and activities involved, and the development and shaping of these archaeological landscapes are discussed. The analysis of the regularities and differences between the two regional experiences are integrated into a broader discussion about the occupation and historical trajectory of Lowland South America.