Celeste Weitzel

Breakage Patterns on Fishtail Projectile Points: Experimental and Archaeological Cases

Abstract Fishtail projectile points, also known as Fell 1, are dated between 11,000 and 9,500 14C yr B.P. in South and Central America and have been traditionally considered diagnostic of the early peopling of the continent. In this paper, experimental observations of impact breakage patterns on fishtail projectile point replicas are compared with archaeological points from the Cerro El Sombrero Cima site, in the Argentinian pampas, which exhibit a high breakage ratio and suggest that impact was a major cause of breakage in the assemblage. The position of these fractures is also briefly compared to patterns described by J. Bird (1969) for fishtail projectile points from Ecuador and Southern Chile.

Landscape and Rocks in the East-Central Portion of the Tandilia Range (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina)

Abstract The east-central Tandilia Range (Pampean region, Argentina) witnessed recurrent human occupations during the final Pleistocene and early Holocene. Here we introduce an updated synthesis about material culture and landscape studies based on eight archaeological sites. The lithic technology of the early groups that inhabited the micro-region includes a highly selective acquisition of rocks and their transport from different sources, sometimes from very long distances. There is significant inter-assemblage variability among sites; within this diverse context, the assemblage at Cerro El Sombrero is exceptional, including infrequent artifacts and a large number of Fishtail projectile points. Our findings indicate people with a deep knowledge of their environment, their stones, and geographic features, some of which had distinctive uses and meanings. We consider that this network of ideas, places, and objects suggests that people in the micro-region were deeply engaged with their surroundings by the Pleistocene–Holocene transition.

Miniature points in an exceptional early South American context

Abstract Miniature points, similar to full-sized types used as hunting weapons, have occasionally been described in North and South America for Late Pleistocene/Early Holocene hunter-gatherer societies. They are explained as toys, practice pieces or ceremonial objects. They are an interesting case to use to reflect on how people materialize abstractions, encode visual communication and develop special practices related to particular places. Here we present six miniature points found at Cerro El Sombrero Cima (Buenos Aires province, Argentina), an early site with an unusual assemblage. Five specimens are fishtail projectile points and the sixth is an undescribed stemmed type. We use relevant theoretical insights and address point life histories according to their techno-morphological characteristics, raw material identification and fatty acids and sterols analyses. Finally, these projectile-point miniatures are considered in the context of discard, and their role among early American hunter-gatherers is addressed.