Gastropods from the rockshelter deodoro roca (sector B), Ongamira Valley (Cordoba, Argentina): a preliminary analysis

Authors

  • Andrés D. Izeta CONICET-Museo de Antropología, Facultad de Filosofía y Humanidades, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. H. Yrigoyen 174, 5000, Córdoba
  • Thiago Costa CONICET-Museo de Antropología, Facultad de Filosofía y Humanidades, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. H. Yrigoyen 174, 5000, Córdoba
  • Sandra Gordillo CICTERRA, CONICET-UNC, Av. V. Sársfield 1611, X5016GCA, Córdoba
  • Roxana Cattáneo CONICET-Museo de Antropología, Facultad de Filosofía y Humanidades, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. H. Yrigoyen 174, 5000, Córdoba
  • Gabriella Boretto CICTERRA, CONICET-UNC, Av. V. Sársfield 1611, X5016GCA, Córdoba
  • Andrés Robledo Museo de Antropología, Facultad de Filosofía y Humanidades, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. H. Yrigoyen 174, 5000, Córdoba

Abstract

This paper presents the first results of the taxonomic characterization and the quantification of gastropods from the Sector B of the Deodoro Roca rockshelter, Ongamira (Ischilín, Córdoba), in order to understand their role in pre-Hispanic groups subsistence strategy focusing in occupation ca. 3000bp. The site was firstly excavated in the 1940s and 1950s at which time it was obtained many faunal remains from camelids, deers, rheas and gastropods. In 2010 we proceeded to re-excavate some sectors worked in the 1950´s leaving exposed profiles and excavate other not previously worked; thus we were able to identify the presence of different spaces with structured hearths which had the distinction of being associated with thick layers of gastropods shells. The analysis of these valves allowed the determination of six species, including five that live currently in the region and other that nowadays it is apparently extinct. From this we explore the recurrence of these animals in archaeological sites in the region and its potential for the understanding of the subsistence of the groups that inhabited the rockshelter during the Late Holocene.

Keywords:

Zooarchaeology, Gastropods, Hunter-Gatherers, Córdoba, Late Holocene