Tree species used in the construction of dugout canoes located in the Rio de la Plata region

Abstract

Dugout caoes were extensively used in the Rio de la Plata basin for centuries if not thousands of years. Historical documents point to the massive use of different types of watercraft for all kinds of activities connected to social, economical and political spheres, and by many different indigenous groups. However, dugout canoes are scarce in the archaeological record. In this paper, we analyze the wood of five dugout canoes located in collections in Uruguay and Argentina. The results show various species: Copaifera langsdorffii, Cordia glabrata, Enterolobium contortisiliquum, and Nothofagus cf betuloides. which can be, to some extent, traced to a region of origin that matches the nautical characteristics of the dugout canoes although, in some cases, it does not include the area where the canoe was located. This can provide information about mobility patterns or exchange routes. This work also expects to provide insights regarding nautical traditions of native peoples of the region.