Morphometric estimation of species, sex and age in bone remains of P 96 Otariids (Punta Entrada, Santa Cruz, Argentina)

Based on the abundance of otariid remains and the high proportion of unfused specimens, previous zooarchaeological studies in P 96 (Punta Entrada, Santa Cruz, Argentina) postulated the exploitation of breeding rockeries in the area. Given the difficulties of identifying pinniped postcranial bones due to their similarities at the osteomorphological level and their pronounced sexual dimorphism, an osteometric study was carried out on 38 fused and unfused archaeological elements of P 96 with the aim of assesing their taxonomic identification. The results complement and elaborate previous data regarding the proportions of species, sex and age cohorts represented at this site. Our analyses indicate a predominance of Otaria flavescens over Arctocephalus australis, the presence of different age and sex classes for both species, and the remains of pups from the latter species. These results enable one to postulate that the otariid remains from this site reveal hunting practices in different types of colonies (haul-out sites and breeding sites) present in the area, confirming, at the very least, the exploitation of a breeding colony of O. flavescens at some point of the Late Holocene.