Marine hunters-gatherers during the Late Holocene in insular southern Patagonia: Characterization of the lithic assemblage of Offing 2 Locus 2

Abstract

Patagonia is a large area with versatile landscapes and a variety of resources. The marine hunter-gatherer groups could face the great amount of fjords and islands that the archipelago presents in the southern insular area as an obstacle or an advantage. The technology developed by the canoeists changed along with their needs, during the process of occupation of the Patagonian archipelago. This is reflected in the Offing 2 Locus 2 site (673-933 years cal. BP), which is located on Offing Island, a small space with great accessibility and possibilities for acquiring lithic and fauna resources. An analysis of the morpho-functional and technological characteristics of the lithic complex is carried out, and the identification of the lithic operational chains. In this way it was determined what type of activities were carried out in this place, such as the production of bifacial lithic tools with high morphological variety.