Primeras investigaciones en una nueva área del oeste santacruceño: estancias La Bajada y El Tranquilo (Patagonia meridional)

This paper presents the results of the initial investigations carried out in La Bajada and El Tranquilo ranches, located in a portion of the steppe in central-western Santa Cruz (Argentina) on the western edge of the Deseado Massif. Considering geographical, ecological and environmental aspects, the region under study is located in a transitional zone, right between two areas: The Central Plateau located to the east and the low basins, high basins and plateaus located to the west. According to previous studies, both spaces have particular human dynamics that were affected by diverse processes of climatic and environmental change since the end of the Pleistocene. In this context we present the first data on the characteristics, distribution and chronology of the archaeological record from this new study region with the aim of starting the discussions about its settlement processes. Results show that the regional archaeological record has similarities with neighboring spaces.