Explotación de recursos vegetales silvestres y domesticados en Neuquén: implicancias del hallazgo de restos de maíz y algarrobo en artefactos de molienda del holoceno tardío

this paper presents the results obtained from the analysis of grinding artefacts recovered in aqui-huecó (3.700 ap) and michacheo (1.860 a？os ap) archaeological sites from the neuquen province. such analysis involved the identification of plant microremains adhered to their surfaces. results show processing of prosopis sp pods in both sites and of zea mays grains in michacheo. this last site also has ceramic sherds, therefore at ca. 2.000 ap there was a broadening of the technological base together with food resources. analysis of archaeological contexts point to the association of these artefacts and the burial of adult female individuals along late holocene. bioanthropological evidence show an increase in the presence of caries and a reduction of dental wear around 2.000 a p, which might have been associated to the incorporation of new resources and technology, although the stable isotope analysis suggest the absence of diets rich in c4 plants -such as corn- among these populations.