20185002(en)/07 - Technological Strategies used in the Exploitation of Raw Materials and the Knapping of Tools in Pampa Oeste Zona de Aprovisionamiento y Cantera (Antofagasta de la Sierra - Catamarca, Argentina)

The volcanic rock quarry Pampa Oeste Zona de Aprovisionamiento y Cantera (POZAC) presents evidence of knapping activities related to the extraction of lithic resources which were transported to camps and residential bases located in Quebrada Secaand Punta de la Peña (Antofagasta de la Sierra - Catamarca, Argentina). The aim of this research was to study the lithic contexts of the knapping areas located at POZAC, by analyzing the selection criteria for the exploitation of these lithic resources as well as the methods and techniques used in the management of blocks, nodules and nodular flakes employed as blanks. For this purpose, we developed systematic surveys and sampling of six “Discrete Knapping Areas” (DKA) and performed techno-typological analyses of cores, core-flakes, flakes and knapping tools recovered. It was possible to establish the characteristics of selection, collection, transportation and reduction of nodules and blocks of volcanic rocks with different sizes and morphologies, the usage of nodular flakes as core-flakes, and the extraction of blanks of variable dimensions for knapping tools.