FUNCTIONAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE FLAKED LITHIC EQUIPMENT OF THE CANOE SOCIETIES OF MAGELLAN BETWEEN THE CA. 4.400 - 3.000 YEARS AP. NEW RESULTS FROM THE TRACEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF PIZZULIC 3 AND OFFING 2 - LOCUS 1 (LOWER COMPONENT)

Abstract

We present the results of the use wear analysis of the lithic assemblages of two sites associated with the “Ponsonby tradition”, characterized by the presence of large lanceolate bifacial points: the lower component of Offing 2 (ca. 4,200-3,700 years AP) and Pizzulic 3 (ca. 3,800 years AP). The results showed a low number of used areas, as well as limited functional spectra, which is influenced by biases of different types (taphonomic and/or possibility of detecting some modes of use in the raw materials represented). Despite this, some artefacts with interpretable use wear were detected, mainly associated to the processing of hide and possibly other soft materials of animal origin; as well as mineral materials. The methodological problems associated with the functional analysis of the sites of this period are discussed, as well as the implications of the results obtained for the reconstruction of the chaines operatoires of the lithic tools of these groups, both of the large bifacial points and of flake tools.