FIREWOOD MANAGEMENT DURING THE LATE HOLOCENE IN HUNTER-GATHERER POPULATIONS OF SANTA CRUZ PROVINCE (PATAGONIA, ARGENTINA).

This work is framed within an archaeological theme of hunter-gatherer groups from Santa Cruz province in Southern Patagonia during the last 1000 years BP.The objective is to show the close relationships these human groups maintained with plant resources -especially woody-within a process of climatic change characterized by a drop in relative humidity and regional desiccation.To achieve this, anthracological analyses have been carried out for the taxonomic identification of woody material present in two archaeological sites during this period, which have the characteristic of being hunting blinds.The results indicate that the human groups would have carried out different logistic strategies to obtain woody resources.In particular, there is a logistical modality that prioritizes the selection of shrub species from the lowlands of the region, for subsequent transport or hauling to other areas considerably distant within the highlands plateau.This modality in the management of woody resources indicates a type of behavior that has been recurrent over time in the region.