CAZADORES-RECOLECTORES DE LOS ANDES CENTRO-SUR Y PROCESAMIENTO VEGETAL: UNA DISCUSIóN DESDE LA PUNA MERIDIONAL ARGENTINA (CA. 7.000-3.200 A？OS A.P.)

current knowledge on useful plants in hunter-gatherers from northwestern argentina is discussed, and the study of processing tools is proposed as a way to fill the lacking of information that macrobotanical remains could not cover. microfossils in use-residues from hunter-gatherers grinding stone tools recovered at antofagasta de la sierra, southern argentinian puna (ca. 7,000-3,200 years bp), are analyzed. results show a progressive and durable acquisition and processing of local and exotic useful plants by these groups with food purposes and to artifact production, including wild and early domestic resources and other in-process to domestication of possible in situ production. data obtained are discussed in the background of contemporary processes occurred at argentinian puna and salar de atacama area in chile.