CORE AND CORE TOOL KNAPPING METHODS ACROSS THE CISNES RIVER VALLEY (CENTRAL WESTERN PATAGONIA) FOR DISCUSSING THE DISTRIBUTION OF ACTIVITIES ON THE LANDSCAPE

Abstract

A redundant use of different environment along the Cisnes river valley (44° S) of Central Western Patagonia has been observed from 3000 cal. BP onwards. This paper presents an analysis of cores and core tools from sites in the steppe, deciduous and evergreen forests to ascertain differences and similarities in knapping methods within this time frame. Four knapping methods were defined across the studied sites of the valley: the initial method, the bifacial tendency method, the multidirectional method, and the preferential platform method. These allow discussing differences in the technological assemblages between residential and logistically oriented sites located across the valley. We conclude that there are no significant qualitative differences for explaining their distribution across the valley and that the four methods were common to hunter-gatherers who inhabited it. Thus, the results obtained argue in favor of a single-integrated technological organization and shared knowledge along this mobility axis.