HIDING PLACE OR GARBAGE DUMP? A CONTRIBUTION FROM THE VITREOUS ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORD RECOVERED FROM THE SMALL CAVITY OF A BLOCK (SANTA CRUZ PROVINCE, ARGENTINA)

In this paper we discuss an archaeological record recovered from a block with a small cavity (Oquedad 1) in the Canadon Mercera Valley, middle basin of the northern bank of the Santa Cruz River, which contains a high frequency of vitreous elements. Our aim was to evaluate, from a techno-morphological perspective, whether this space was used as a hiding place or as a garbage dump. Our findings support the latter hypothesis, i.e., the block cavity was used as a space to discard elements at the end of the 19th century and/or the beginning of the 20th century. This garbage dump of Oquedad 1 shows a distinctive character in the Southern Patagonia context, allowing us to conclude that it was originally shaped by more intensive ways of occupying spaces near the Canadon Mercera.