Lithic Technology And Occupational History At Cueva Huenul 1 Site (Barrancas-Buta Ranquil, Neuquen, Argentina)

In this paper, we present the results of the morpho-technological analysis of lithic assemblages from Cueva Huenul 1 site (Barrancas- Buta Ranquil locality, Pehuenches department, Neuquen Province, Argentina). Hunter-gatherers occupied the site discontinuously during the Early (Component 2) and Late Holocene (Component 4). A comparative analysis of the lithic assemblages assigned to these periods shows that although different in size, they are similar in artifact composition. Furthermore, the morpho-technological analysis suggests that the site was briefly and recurrently occupied, although discontinuously through time. The continuity in the composition of the lithic assemblages is interesting since both components represent different stages in the human peopling of Patagonia. We suggest that the location of CH1, near the Cerro Huenul obsidian quarry, coupled with the local absence of permanent water sources, may have conditioned this similar pattern of knapping activities and lithic discard at the site.