54. Possible Relatives in the Americas

Tres Tetas site (Santa Cruz, Argentina)

by George Weber

Location of the Tres Tetas site (48o 08' 58" S, 68o 56' 00" W, 55 km north of the Estancia La Maria)

The stratigraphy of the Tres Teta site (12.5 sq.m. excavated1994/1995).
(adapted from Paunero, R.S. 2001. The Cerro Tres Tetas (C3T) Locality in te central Plateau of Santa Cruz, Argentina, Voices from South America, a Peopling of the Americas Publication)

0. Very recent, volcanic ash from the eruption of Hudson volcano from August 1991, layer 2-6 cm thick 1. Recent, gray layer with sheep dung, 3-8 cm thick 2. Historic Tehuelche people, 400 years or less before present, sandy layer without dung, dark, 6-12 cm, post-1600s, small and very small stemmed projectile (arrow) points, hearth, contains glass and other European material 3a. Late upper Tehuelchense, 830±660 years before present, light gray sandy layer, 8-12 cm thick, small stone points similar to layer 2, bone and stone tools, no glass or other European materials Hay, layer of hay placed in a lens (sleeping arrangement for a hunting group?), 1,740±60 years before present, 2-16 cm thick

3b. Late lower Tehuelchense, 2,190±70 years before present Fine-grained dark-grey sandy layer, 12-16 cm, some hearths 4. Casapedrense culture, 5,220±70 years before present, sand and lime brown-coloured layer, 10-14 cm, two hearths A rockfall terminated period 5, sealing it and all deeper layers off from later layers 5. Earliest human occupation dates range from from 11,560±140 until 10,260±110 before present light ochre coloured and sandy layer, outer grid thin (6 cm), inner grids thicker (to 38 cm) two hearths with lenticulat structure 80 to 120 cm in size some stone tools and bone remains found 6. no archaeological finds

 

H: Hearths and other fireplaces Ash: Lenses of volcanic ash, 2-5 cm thick Roof fall: sealing off Layers 5 and 6 The site from the earliest time was compartmentalized into areas intended for specific activities. Near the cave there is a depression with a stream crossing it that would (and may) have provided an ideal site for hunting and processing pray.

A total of 31 tools have been found at the site. The tools shown here come from the lowest (oldest) layer 5. Those reproduced here (adapted from Paunero, R.S. . c. 2001. The Cerro Tres Tetas (C3T) Locality in te central Plateau of Santa Cruz, Argentina, Voices from South America, a Peopling of the Americas Publication) are A - a core (stone) B - a double lateral sidescraper (stone) C - a tool made from guanaco bones D - a lateral scraper (stone) E - a knife with externded unfacial retouch (stone)

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Last change 27 April 2007