Massive death of pinnipeds 1200 years ago: Taphonomic history of the “Lobos site” (Golfo Nuevo, Patagonia, Argentina)

Abstract The Lobos site was discovered in October 2000, as a result of the exposure of a stratified set of pinniped bone remains. These remains correspond to the Otaria flavescens species and were found on the walls of a ravine. Research included several samplings; an excavation according to archaeological methodology, and taphonomic, biological, archaeological, geological, and forensic studies. These studies indicate the occurrence of a massive natural death of a pinniped colony 1200 years 14 C BP. Associated pupal cases remains suggest that the episode took place in summer and that the pinniped bodies were buried by mass wasting events a month later. Some of the bones were afterwards redeposited by water.