DIET AND AGROPASTORILE COMPANIES: ANALYSIS OF STABLE ISOTOPES OF A SITE OF THE ARGENTINE SOUTHERN PUNA (ANTOFAGASTA DE LA SIERRA, CATAMARCA)

Abstract

In this paper we present the results of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur stable isotope analysis perfonned on human (hair and nail) and animal (camelid fibers) samples. 'The sampled materials come from a funerary context associated to an agropastoralist settlement (Punta de la Peña 9), located in Antofagasta de la Sierra (Catamarca),in the Southern Puna of Argentina. The results are discussed considering the whole contextual evidence recovered at the site as well as the available models about the subsistente strategies implemented by prehistoric populations of the orea at ca. 1500 years B.P. In addition to propositions about the incidente of agricultural products (e.g. maize) on the human diet, we propone that stable isotope analysis of animal samples constitutes a complementaty and valuable line of inquiry about archaeological issues that go beyond strict paleodietary information. Among such issues are the complex and multivariate process of camelid domestication in the South Andean Area and/or with the specific strategies deployed by agropastoral activity at the regional level.