Entheseal changes in human remains of Late Holocene hunter-gatherers from Southern Patagonia: An approach to the study of physical activity patterns

The study of entheseal changes (EC) is part of bioarchaeological research to explore activity patterns in past populations. Although some studies in Southern Patagonia have proposed variations in EC associated with different hunter -gatherer economic strategies, these descriptions have been qualitative and lack specific methodologies. This study aims to evaluate the possible variability of physical activity patterns in huntergatherer populations that inhabited Southern Patagonia (i.e., Santa Cruz, North Tierra del Fuego and South Tierra del Fuego) during the Late Holocene, through the systematic study of fibrocartilaginous EC. The upper and lower limbs of 17 adult individuals of both sexes were analyzed using the New Coimbra Method. The results showed an age -related increase in EC and a higher prevalence among females. Individuals from the south of Tierra del Fuego with a maritime diet exhibited greater EC development, particularly in entheses involving the forearm and hand. No chronological differences were identified. In conclusion, it is suggested that the prevalence of EC in hunter -gatherers shows divergences according to terrestrial and maritime subsistence strategies.