Procesos de formación de conjuntos líticos: casos de estudio y abordajes metodológicos

The surface lithic archaeological record is exposed to various post-depositional agents, which trigger a series of modifcations which are part of the formation processes of the assemblages that archaeologists recover. The study of these modifcations provides essential information when proposing behavioral interpretations about past human groups. This paper highlights the relevance of the application of a taphonomic program to the study of surface lithic assemblages. To accomplish this, the advances made in three case studies of desert / semi-desert zones of Argentina were considered. Among the methodologies developed in each case are naturalistic observations, sampling, experimentation and studies at the artifact scale, for example, analysis of wind abrasion. From the problems analyzed in each case it was possible to recognize the role of wind erosion and / or circulation of surface water, or the trampling of fauna, which are agents of transformation that affect the stability of surface lithic assemblages and their quantitative and qualitative attributes. The assembly of a taphonomic program allows us to analyze the effects generated by post-depositional processes and to know the preserved or transformed nature of the lithic contexts with which we work.