Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The main objective of this study was to determine the taxonomic and taphonomic characteristics of the micromammal remains recovered from pellets of Pseudoscops clamator (striped owl), collected at three localities in northeastern Buenos... more
The main objective of this study was to determine the taxonomic and taphonomic characteristics of the
micromammal remains recovered from pellets of Pseudoscops clamator (striped owl), collected at three
localities in northeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina (Punta Lara Natural Reserve, 3449’02,6’’S,
5803’03,9’’W; Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve, 3436’6,44"S, 5821’33,22"W; Los Robles Park,
3440’22,03’’S, 5852’18,88’’W). The main taphonomic variables (e.g. evidence of digestive action, breakage
patterns and relative abundance of skeletal elements) suggest that this owl mainly produces intermediate
to moderate modification. On the other hand, P. clamator preyed mainly upon large-sized (>150 g)
micromammals (e.g. Lutreolina crassicaudata, Cavia aperea, Holochilus brasiliensis and Rattus sp.), and
to a lesser degree on medium- (50–150 g) and small-sized species (<50 g) (e.g. Scapteromys aquaticus,
Calomys sp., Oligoryzomys flavescens, Akodon azarae and Mus musculus). Fossil assemblages with a
dominance of large-sized micromammals are commonly associated with humans as agents of accumulation.
However, this study demonstrates that this owl produces assemblages with abundant large-sized
micromammals, which introduces an equifinality problem. In that sense, digestive corrosion marks, breakage
patterns and the relative abundance of skeletal remains are the main attributes to differentiate P. clamator
from humans, as agents of accumulation. Finally, our results might serve as an analytical model for the
taphonomic interpretation of the fossil record of micromammals from paleontological and archaeological sites,
which fall within the distributional range and habitat of P. clamator. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
micromammal remains recovered from pellets of Pseudoscops clamator (striped owl), collected at three
localities in northeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina (Punta Lara Natural Reserve, 3449’02,6’’S,
5803’03,9’’W; Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve, 3436’6,44"S, 5821’33,22"W; Los Robles Park,
3440’22,03’’S, 5852’18,88’’W). The main taphonomic variables (e.g. evidence of digestive action, breakage
patterns and relative abundance of skeletal elements) suggest that this owl mainly produces intermediate
to moderate modification. On the other hand, P. clamator preyed mainly upon large-sized (>150 g)
micromammals (e.g. Lutreolina crassicaudata, Cavia aperea, Holochilus brasiliensis and Rattus sp.), and
to a lesser degree on medium- (50–150 g) and small-sized species (<50 g) (e.g. Scapteromys aquaticus,
Calomys sp., Oligoryzomys flavescens, Akodon azarae and Mus musculus). Fossil assemblages with a
dominance of large-sized micromammals are commonly associated with humans as agents of accumulation.
However, this study demonstrates that this owl produces assemblages with abundant large-sized
micromammals, which introduces an equifinality problem. In that sense, digestive corrosion marks, breakage
patterns and the relative abundance of skeletal remains are the main attributes to differentiate P. clamator
from humans, as agents of accumulation. Finally, our results might serve as an analytical model for the
taphonomic interpretation of the fossil record of micromammals from paleontological and archaeological sites,
which fall within the distributional range and habitat of P. clamator. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Research Interests:
Desde una perspectiva tafonómica y paleoambiental se estudiaron restos de micromamíferos recuperados de dos sitios arqueológicos que abarcan un período temporal desde 3.800 años a.p. hasta el siglo XX y se ubican en el curso medio del río... more
Desde una perspectiva tafonómica y paleoambiental se estudiaron restos de micromamíferos recuperados de dos sitios arqueológicos
que abarcan un período temporal desde 3.800 años a.p. hasta el siglo XX y se ubican en el curso medio del río Grande, sudoeste
de la provincia de Mendoza (Cueva de Luna y Alero Puesto Carrasco). La presencia de marcas de digestión ligera y moderada
indica que los micromamíferos fueron depositados por aves strigiformes, posiblemente Tyto alba. Esto contrasta con el modelo de
intensificación de los recursos planteado para los grupos cazadores-recolectores que habitaron el sur de Mendoza hacia el 2.000
a.p. Los conjuntos zooarqueológicos mostraron cierta estabilidad taxonómica, presentando especies patagónicas (p.ej. Lestodelphys
halli, Reithrodon auritus y Euneomys chinchilloides) y otras afines al desierto del Monte (p.ej. Galea leucoblephara, Akodon
iniscatus y Calomys musculinus), en contraste con las muestras actuales donde principalmente se hallaron especies patagónicas,
señalando un paleoambiente más árido y cálido que el actual.
This paper describes micromammal samples from two archaeological sites spanning a period from 3,800 yr. BP until the 20th
century, and located in the middle basin of the river Grande, in the south-west of the Mendoza Province (Cueva de Luna and Alero
Puesto Carrasco). Also, the taphonomic and paleoenvironmental conditions are assessed. The recording of light and moderate
digestive traces indicates that the micromammals of both samples were deposited by strigiform birds, possibly Tyto alba. This
contrasts with the model of intensification of resources proposed for the hunter-gatherers who inhabited southern Mendoza toward
2,000 yr. BP. The archaeofaunistic assemblages showed some taxonomic stability, including Patagonian species (e.g., Lestodelphys
halli, Reithrodon auritus and Euneomys chinchilloides) and others associated with the Monte desert (e.g., Galea leucoblephara,
Akodon iniscatus and Calomys musculinus), contrary to recent samples, which mainly found Patagonian species, suggesting a
more arid and warm palaeonvironment than recent times.
que abarcan un período temporal desde 3.800 años a.p. hasta el siglo XX y se ubican en el curso medio del río Grande, sudoeste
de la provincia de Mendoza (Cueva de Luna y Alero Puesto Carrasco). La presencia de marcas de digestión ligera y moderada
indica que los micromamíferos fueron depositados por aves strigiformes, posiblemente Tyto alba. Esto contrasta con el modelo de
intensificación de los recursos planteado para los grupos cazadores-recolectores que habitaron el sur de Mendoza hacia el 2.000
a.p. Los conjuntos zooarqueológicos mostraron cierta estabilidad taxonómica, presentando especies patagónicas (p.ej. Lestodelphys
halli, Reithrodon auritus y Euneomys chinchilloides) y otras afines al desierto del Monte (p.ej. Galea leucoblephara, Akodon
iniscatus y Calomys musculinus), en contraste con las muestras actuales donde principalmente se hallaron especies patagónicas,
señalando un paleoambiente más árido y cálido que el actual.
This paper describes micromammal samples from two archaeological sites spanning a period from 3,800 yr. BP until the 20th
century, and located in the middle basin of the river Grande, in the south-west of the Mendoza Province (Cueva de Luna and Alero
Puesto Carrasco). Also, the taphonomic and paleoenvironmental conditions are assessed. The recording of light and moderate
digestive traces indicates that the micromammals of both samples were deposited by strigiform birds, possibly Tyto alba. This
contrasts with the model of intensification of resources proposed for the hunter-gatherers who inhabited southern Mendoza toward
2,000 yr. BP. The archaeofaunistic assemblages showed some taxonomic stability, including Patagonian species (e.g., Lestodelphys
halli, Reithrodon auritus and Euneomys chinchilloides) and others associated with the Monte desert (e.g., Galea leucoblephara,
Akodon iniscatus and Calomys musculinus), contrary to recent samples, which mainly found Patagonian species, suggesting a
more arid and warm palaeonvironment than recent times.