Microscopy as methodological tool in zooarchaeology and taphonomy in Chile: cases and perspectives
Authors
Boris Santander
Programa de Doctorado en Cuaternario y Prehistoria, Universitat
Rovira i Virgili. Institut Català de Paleoecología Humana
i Evolució Social (IPHES), Catalunya, España. Grupo “Quaternário
e Pré-História” do Centro de Geociências, uID73 –
FCT
Gladys Olivares Rojas
Laboratorio de Microscopia Electrónica, Depto. Ing. Metalúrgica,
Universidad de Santiago de Chile
Patricio López Mendoza
Programa de Doctorado en Antropología, Universidad Católica
del Norte, Instituto de Investigaciones Arqueológicas y
Museo Gustavo Le Paige (IIAM)
The development of microscopy for the archaeological materials analysis since the early ‘50s, has strongly impacted the development of analytical methodologies that allow access to a record, otherwise, inaccessible. However, Latin America has remained relatively outside to the development of such innovations. In the last decade, however, the use of microscopy of different nature and magnification levels, and still has gained a shy impulse among researchers, perhaps coinciding with an increased interest in technology and bone traceology. In this paper we presents a synthesis of the impact of the use of microscopes (and especially at Scanning Electron Microscope) in chilean zooarchaeology and taphonomy from the analysis of specific cases, a critical assessment of their capabilities, technical requirements, costs and weaknesses in the context of zooarchaeological research.
Santander, B., Olivares Rojas, G., & López Mendoza, P. (2015). Microscopy as methodological tool in zooarchaeology and taphonomy in Chile: cases and perspectives. Revista Chilena De Antropología, (30). Retrieved from https://revistas.uchile.cl/index.php/RCA/article/view/36263
