ZooMS and mtDNA as a tool to explore the exploitation of cetaceans: A case study from Tierra del Fuego (southern South America)

Cetacean remains are abundant in shell middens along the southern coast of Tierra del Fuego; however, the specific roles of different species within local subsistence and technological systems remain insufficiently understood. This study integrates ZooMS and mitochondrial DNA analyses to identify cetacean species represented in three late Holocene assemblages from the Heshkaia locality (Beagle Channel, Moat Bay). Results indicate the presence of both Mysticeti (humpback, sei, southern right, and blue whales) and Odontoceti (Cuvier’s beaked whale), with humpback whale remains predominating. These appear in tools, production byproducts, bones with processing marks, and unmodified fragments, demonstrating their importance in both technological and subsistence practices. In particular, humpback and sei whales served as key raw materials for bone tool manufacture, following a structured operational sequence from initial modification to final shaping. In contrast, from the samples analyzed, Cuvier’s beaked whale was exclusively associated with subsistence activities, particularly oil extraction. Evidence suggests that whale remains were likely obtained from freshly stranded individuals, stranded carcasses, or drift bones collected along the shoreline, with potential storage for later use. These findings offer new insights into resource acquisition and processing strategies in Fuegian societies. Moreover, the study highlights the value of biomolecular methods for accurate taxonomic identification and zooarchaeological interpretation.