RADIOCARBON DATINGS AND CHRONOLOGICAL RESOLUTION OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSEMBLAGES OF MARIPE CAVE, SANTA CRUZ, (ARGENTINA)

Maripe Cave is located in the middle of the La Primavera ravine. It is divided into two chambers that differ in their topographic, micro-en vironmental and archaeological characteristics. The occupational sequence in both sectors is ample and indicates that this cave was used between the Pleistocene/Holocene transition and the late Holocene repeatedly. In this paper we present new radiocarbon evidence, the results of the sedimentary, taphonomic, zooarchaeological and lithic technology analyses, and GIS methodology applied to stratigraphic modelling. These different lines have allowed us to refine the temporal grain and archaeological resolution too. Thus, human occupations were defined into three temporal blocks: Pleistocene-Holocene transition and Early Holocene, Middle Holocene, and Late Holocene. This occupational sequence recorded in both chambers shows a marked variability. The role played by Cave Maripe is discussed in the context of the colonization landscapes, and the human mobility in the Deseado Massif, during the Holocene.