Advances in Archaeobotany of Central-Eastern Argentina: Dynamics in the Use of Plants from the Early Holocene to Colonial Times Through the Analysis of Micro and Macro Plant Remains

In central-eastern Argentina, dental tartar, material adhering to ceramics, sedimentary matrices, and charcoal were analyzed at archaeological sites in Córdoba, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, and Buenos Aires. This made it possible to detect the use of local and introduced plants, in pre- and post-colonial contexts, for food, construction, fuel, and medicinal purposes, among others. The chronology of the sites varies between 10,000- and 300-years BP approximately, and they correspond to caves and overhangs, in the open air and on mounds. Different methods were used: established protocols were followed for the study of plant microremains and xylological analysis was used for the taxonomic identification of the archaeological charcoals. The main conclusions include the presence of wheat (Triticum sp.) and peach (Prunus sp.) as indicators of the introduction of exogenous material and the consumption and/or manipulation of wild rice (Oryzoideae), chañar (Geoffroea decorticans), algarrrobo (Neltuma sp. ex Prosopis sp.), and palm (Arecaceae) throughout the period analyzed. In addition, morphotypes related to squash (Cucurbitaceae), beans (Phaseolus sp.), and maize (Zea mays) were identified as resources of later incorporation. Finally, a varied use of local fuel species such as Neltuma and extra-local species such as Araucaria.