Primer análisis arqueofaunístico del sitio El Carmen 2, valle de Santa María (Tucumán, Argentina)

This paper presents the first analyses of archaeofaunas recovered from the archaeological site El Carmen 2, located in the central-western sector of the Santa María valley (Tucumán, Argentina). The analyzed samples come from the excavations carried out in the courtyard of a residential structure occupied during the first and second millennium AD. The predominance of camelids on the occupation floor with probable fresh fractures and processing marks and the presence of remains of calcined armadillos dermal plates allow us to think that they were part of the food consumed. The identification of domestic camelids and of a sub-adult individual dated 1567 ± 28 years C14 BP are consistent with the presence of grazing practices since early times in the Valliserrana area.