El uso de Rhea americana por los antiguos pobladores del sitio Beltrán Onofre Banegas-Lami Hernández del Chaco Seco (Santiago del Estero)

The role of Rhea americana in the subsistence of the ancient settlers has been analyzed in different regions of the country, mainly in Pampeana and Patagonica regions. The presence of R. americana remains with evidence of human consumption was registered in several archaeological sites of Santiago del Estero province. This species would have been second or third in order of importance in the diet of ancient human groups after camelids in the agro-pottery period. In this paper, the R. Americana remains of the Beltran Onofre Banegas-Lami Hernandez archaeological site (Sunchituyoj context, late agro-pottery period, ca. 800-300 BP) are analyzed in order to evaluate the processes that generated its record. Quantification, comparison with frames of reference and taphonomic analysis of materials were performed. In this sense, a higher proportion of hindlimb elements, a lesser extent of the axial skeleton and a low proportion of forelimb are observed. These remains show evidence of anthropic accumulation and we considered that the incidence of the natural agents’ action was not significant. From the results, it follows that human activities were the main factor contributing to a differential skeletal parts representation.