LATE HOLOCENE HUMAN OCCUPATIONS IN THE BASALTIC CANYONS NORTH OF THE SANTA CRUZ RIVER BASIN, PATAGONIA, ARGENTINA

The aim of this paper is to provide information on the archaeological record corresponding to the period of the highest intensity of human occupation of the upper canyons of the northern part of the Santa Cruz River, dated between ca. 1700 and 1100 years BP. Information is provided on the activities that took place and evidence of intra and interregional mobility or exchange. Artifacts suggest that initial and final stages of lithic manufacture took place in the area. There is evidence of utilization of blade technology or laminar blanks, which would suggest high mobility of human populations who were using these spaces with a specific goal. Evidence of pigments suggests that at least some of the rock art was done during this time period. The presence of raw material from locations more than 150 km away and similarities in motives and techniques of rock art support the idea of mobile human populations and/or the existence of interaction networks at broad spatial scales. Reasons for this could be related to variability in water availability and/or to the relationship between resource rich places which would have been of interest to early inhabitants.