Decorated bone artefacts in Southern Patagonian Hunter-Gatherer locality Cerro Casa de Piedra (Santa Cruz, Argentina)

Abstract

This paper studies portable art in continental Patagonia, specifically decorated bone artefacts from the archaeological locality known as Cerro Casa de Piedra (CCP), located in the Province of Santa Cruz (Argentina). The artefacts analysed, retrieved from two rock shelters within CCP (sites 5 and 7), make up a rare assemblage, with varied chronologies, diverse decorations, and the highest concentration in the area for this type of objects. In order to characterise this portable art, two aspects were considered: the type of decoration and the particularities of the bone used as surface (species and anatomical part). The set consists of painted and carved decorations elaborated primarily on guanaco (Lama guanicoe) and huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus), the same species on which the diet of these hunter-gatherer groups was based. It was possible to observe specific patterns in the choice of decorations for particular anatomical parts. Differences in the level of precision and detail in these decorations, as well as the degree of skill required, also suggested that more time and effort were dedicated in the elaboration of decorations in artefacts made between ca. 9600 to 7900 years BP, compared to those made after ca. 6500 years BP. Rock art and portable art in CCP show strong differences in designs chosen and techniques used, which suggests that these visual platforms account for distinct dynamics regarding the circulation of visual information using different codes. This study offers new insight on Patagonian portable art, and provides valuable and rare information on communication in hunter-gatherer groups in the area.