Application of biometric analyses on shell middens of hunter-fisher-gatherer societies of Tierra del Fuego (Argentina)

The application of biometric analysis to archaeomalacological remains provides information about the management of coastal resources implemented by past societies. This paper presents the results obtained from applying biometric analyses to the archaeomalacological remains of the most abundant species recovered in the shell middens Tunel VII and Lanashuaia (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina): Mytilus edulis, Nacella deaurata and Nacella magellanica. These sites, which are related to an indigenous hunter-fisher-gatherer society (yamana), are located on the north coast of the Beagle Channel and belong to the period of European contact (end of 18th century-beginning of 19th century). These preliminary results of the biometric analyses suggest the existence of management patterns of the littoral resources.