Estudios de arqueología distribucional en Monte Loayza (Costa Norte de Santa Cruz, Patagonia)

Abstract

En este trabajo se presentan los primeros resultados de los estudios distribucionales realizados en el sector Monte Loayza en la Costa Norte de Santa Cruz. Estos se plantearon con el objetivo de conocer las características estructurales del registro arqueológico superficial de este sector, del cual se contaba con escasos antecedentes. El sector Monte Loayza reúne una serie de características particulares que permiten contrastar hipótesis previas en relación con el uso de los distintos tipos de costas, los recursos allí disponibles y las formas de ocupación de los espacios costeros e interiores formuladas en el proyecto marco. De esta forma, los estudios distribucionales permitieron registrar que este sector presenta, en términos generales, densidades bajas a medias, menores a las observadas en promedio en otros sectores de la Costa Norte de Santa Cruz. Sin embargo, se observa una mayor intensidad de uso, interpretada como un aprovechamiento residencial de algunos tramos de la costa y los cañadones; mientras que otro tramo de costa -con alta disponibilidad de distintos tipos de recursos- presenta un registro artefactual muy escaso, lo cual probablemente se relacione con su difícil accesibilidad.

In this paper, we present the first results of distributional studies undertaken at the Monte Loayza sector of the North coast of Santa Cruz (NCSC). Studies conducted at Monte Loayza were aimed at understanding the structural characteristics of the surface archaeological record of the sector. In this regard, previous archaeological studies of this sector were both scarce and unsystematic. The Monte Loayza sector had some unique elements. These elements were useful in contrasting with previous hypotheses proposed within the framework of the North Coast of Santa Cruz project, regarding the use of different types of coasts, resource availability, and the manner in which, coastal and inland areas were occupied by human groups. Distributional studies performed on different landscape units, such as coast, small canyons (known as cañadones in Patagonia), temporary lagoons and plateaus allowed us to confirm that this particular sector had, in general, low to medium artifact densities. This constitutes a medium to lower density vis-à-vis other sectors along the northern coast of Santa Cruz. However, a higher intensity of use, interpreted as residential, of a part of an open coast was observed; while another area of cliffy coast, with a high availability of varied types of resources, had almost no artifact record, this is probably related to difficulty of access at this location.