Otoliths as a proxy for seasonality: The case of Micropogonias furnieri from the northern coast of San Matías Gulf, Río Negro, Patagonia, Argentina

Abstract This article presents the preliminary results of a seasonality study on Micropogonias furnieri otoliths from the northern coast of the San Matias Gulf, Rio Negro, Argentina. First, we analyze modern M. furnieri otoliths from a reference collection, which provides a necessary framework for assessing the viability of the method. Data from the modern reference collection comprise more than 360 otolith section cuts from fish with known capture dates that span a whole year. Second, we analyze otolith section cuts from zooarchaeological fish remains, a total of 61 samples, collected from different archaeological sites along the northern coast of the San Matias Gulf, Patagonia, Argentina. Using data from the two analyses, we generate a strong macro-regional model of seasonality. A comparison between the modern and ancient otoliths also provides insights into the seasonality of human occupation and M. furnieri exploitation along the Northern Rio Negro coastline from the mid-to late Holocene. Our data show that M. furnieri fishing activities in the area primarily took place between November and January. Application of our method demonstrates its advantages and limitations for more general application in a wider range of archaeological studies.