Miotti, L. y Marchionni L. 2009. Procesando huesos: entre la Etnografía y la Arqueología.

In this paper the first zooarchaeological results about mid Holocene occupation at Maripe cave, La Primavera locality, in Deseado Massif, Santa Cruz province are presented. Archaeological samples come from systematic excavations practiced in this site between 2003 and 2005. Taphonomic and sedimentary rates were published previously (Miotti et al. 2007). Now we are presenting a comparison between the bone accumulations coming from South and North chambers of the cave. These analyses involve fragmentation (degree, proportions and frequencies of skeletal parts). Fragmentation index (Lyman 1994) was applied, taking into account the quality and quantitative analysis about bone modifications. On the other hand, as an independent line, consumption of prey, among hunter-gatherers was analysed. This analysis was made throughout chronicles and ethnographic documents about Tehuelche and Selk'nam people descendants, who inhabited Patagonia until recent present times. The final aim is comparing present to archaeological patterns to discuss their implications in the interpretations of archaeological record. The application of analogies does not imply lineal tele-projections from the present to the past; this methodology is used as a heuristic tool helpful to infer the way of life hunter-gatherers led during the Mid Holocene.