Prehistoric Land Use Patterns in the Guillermo River Basin (Southwestern Patagonian Forest, Argentina): A First Look at the Gis Dataset of Surface Lithic Material

This paper presents an initial analysis of surface lithic material from the Argentinian stretch of the Guillermo River basin, located in the southwestern forest of mainland Patagonia (southernmost South America). Integrating spatial distributions of isolated artifacts, lithic clusters and archaeological sites in an archaeological GIS dataset, a Kernel Density Analysis indicates differences in densities and locations of lithic artifact samples along the basin. Low artifact diversity, generally made on locally available raw materials is observed in surface contexts. The general spatial pattern and technological attributes suggest that the study area was occupied by hunter-gatherer groups through a logistic system of exploitation, probably while moving from nearby areas. While much additional work is required on current archaeological information of the Guillermo River taphonomic traits, lithic technology, and tool use, this analysis offers an important first step for examining prehistoric land use patterns.

Keywords: surface lithic material, geospatial analysis, hunter-gatherers, forest land use patterns, southern Patagonia.