Santander, February 19th-22nd 2008 - Aranzadi

MUNIBE(Suplemento/Gehigarria) - nº nº 3100 294-301 000-000 DONOSTIA-SAN SEBASTIÁN 2010 2003 D.L. ISSN SS-1055-2010
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Molluscs as sedimentary components.
Another perspective of analysis
Moluscos como componentes sedimentarios.
Otra perspectiva de análisis.
KEY WORDS: Shell midden, molluscs, sedimentary samples, Beagle Channel, building material
PALABRAS CLAVE: Concheros, moluscos, muestras sedimentarias, Canal Beagle, material constructivo
GAKO-HITZAK: Maskortegiak, moluskuak, jalkitze-laginak, Beagle itsasartea, eraikuntza-materiala
Ester VERDÚN (1)
ABSTRACT
The study of shell middens through representative and significant sedimentary samples from every stratigraphic subunit, gives us a different
approach to archaeological sites. The statistical study of the components of each sedimentary sample shows spatial differences in the site Túnel
VII (Tierra de Fuego, Argentina). This is a shell midden located at the coast of the Beagle Channel. It was occupied in the last decades of the
19th century by the Yamana, a hunter-fisher-gatherer society that lived along the Beagle Channel until the arrival of the European expeditions.
There are some chronicles and ethnographic testimonies of Yamana occupation. The spatial differences observed in this site, give information
about the activities carried out in the settlement and about the use of the shell as building material.
RESUMEN
El estudio a partir de muestras de sedimento significativas y representativas de cada una de las subunidades estratigráficas, permite un
acercamiento distinto al estudio de los conchales. El estudio estadístico de los componentes de cada muestra sedimentaria permitió reconocer
diferencias espaciales en el yacimiento Túnel VII (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina). Éste es un conchero localizado en la costa del Canal Beagle.
Fue ocupado en el siglo XIX por los Yámana, una sociedad cazadora-pescadora-recolectora que vivió a lo largo del Canal Beagle hasta la llegada
de las expediciones europeas. Por esta razón hay algunas crónicas y testimonios etnográficos sobre esta sociedad. Las diferencias espaciales
detectadas en este yacimiento, a su vez, ofrecen información sobre las distintas actividades llevadas a cabo en el asentamiento y sobre
el reaprovechamiento de las valvas como elemento constructivo.
LABURPENA
Azpiunitate estratigrafiko bakoitzaren jalkin-lagin esanguratsu eta adierazgarrien azterketari esker, beste era batera azter daitezke maskortegiak.
Jalkin-lagin bakoitzaren osagaien azterketa estatistikoak Túnel VII (Suaren lurraldea, Argentina) aztarnategian desberdintasun espazialak
hautemateko aukera eman zuen. Beagle itsasarteko kostaldean dago maskortegi hau. XIX. mendean, Yamana indioek okupatu zuten, europar
espedizioak Beagle itsasartera iritsi arte bertan bizi izan ziren ehiztari-arrantzale-biltzaileek. Horregatik daude gizarte hari buruzko zenbait
kronika eta testigantza etnografiko. Gainera, aztarnategi horretan hautemandako desberdintasun espazialek bertan garatutako zenbait jarduerari
buruzko informazioa eta kuskuak eraikuntzarako erabiltzeari buruzkoa ematen digute.
1. INTRODUCTION
When we work with archaeological molluscs,
usually most of us think of these animals as an alimentary
resource or as ornamental goods (necklaces,
pendants, bracelets…). But in a special
archaeological context as a shell midden like Túnel
VII site, the study of molluscs is a bit more complicated
due to the big amount of remains. The formation
of shell middens must be seen as the result
of different social activities: firstly, the carrying of
molluscs to the settlement due to food consumption;
secondly, the fact of reusing the food residues
(shells) for different aims. Once the food residues
are left, they start to become part of the sedimentary
matrix. They can also give us some new information
about other activities carried out in the
archaeological site. Those activities give us also
new information referring to other activities or
social relations in the group itself. In Túnel VII it is
necessary to evaluate the molluscs focusing on
the food consumption, also on the activities carried
out during their gathering and the reuse of valves
for different purposes.
(1)
Departament de Prehistòria. Laboratori d’Arqueozoologia. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain (ester.verdun@uab.cat).