SITIO LAGUNA LAS VEGAS: PROCESAMIENTO Y CONSUMO DE GUANACOS (LAMA GUANICOE) EN LA CUENCA MEDIA DEL RÍO COYLE (PROVINCIA DE SANTA CRUZ) .

Laguna Las Vegas is a high integrity and high resolution site. It is a penecontemporaneous record that was formed around 3050-3210 BP which is remarkable due to the high frequency of guanaco bones (Lama guanicoe) and, to a lesser extent, of cauquén remains (Chloephaga sp.). Additionally, a high frequency of bone pounders and chalcedony scrapers was recorded. We propose that this site was a campsite originated by an attritionally discard behavior within a short time frame, in which whole preys (guanacos) were taken for processing, consumption, and subsequent transport of their axial skeleton. The fact that cauquén remains were found suggests that human occupations took place, at least, during spring and summer. Due to these features, Laguna Las Vegas stands out as a valuable site, one which adds useful information about faunal resource management and mobility of the hunter-gatherer populations of the Coyle River middle basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]