Papers by Victoria Romano
International Journal of Paleopathology, 2025
To evaluate the social implications of traumatic injuries in non-sedentary hunter-gatherers by an... more To evaluate the social implications of traumatic injuries in non-sedentary hunter-gatherers by analysing osteological remains through models based on the Bioarchaeology of Care. Materials: Human skeletal remains from North Patagonia (Late Holocene). 3179 anatomical elements from 189 individuals of both sexes and different age categories. Methods: Macroscopic analysis of all bones to identify two injury types (dislocations and fractures) to apply the Index of Care to each case. Results: About 20 % of individuals suffered injuries, mostly mild, requiring short-term care. Severe cases needed intensive care, likely disrupting the normal routines of daily life in the group. Conclusions: Despite logistical costs and disabilities that led, in some cases, to social reorganisation of daily or planned activities, these groups ensured their peers' survival and recovery through care. Significance: The Index of Care was expanded by defining categories based on care intensity, applicable to any context, and offers new information about interpersonal care in Patagonia. Limitations: Only osteological remains are available to assess interpersonal care. Suggestions for further research: Incorporate other pathological conditions (e.g., bone infections) and more samples on a larger spatial-temporal scale to evaluate interpersonal care in the region.
Scientific Reports, 2025
The acknowledgment of plants as signifiant components in hunter-gatherer diets has provided new
i... more The acknowledgment of plants as signifiant components in hunter-gatherer diets has provided new
insights into past interactions between these groups and their environments, as well as between
groups with diffrent economies and social structures. The Patagonia region, South American Southern
Cone, has been traditionally perceived as dominated by game hunting. This perception has changed
by recognizing a broader spectrum of diet, where local wild and exotic domesticated plants, would
have been intertwined in these hunter-gatherer lives. However, the nature of the archaeological record
preservation obscures an accurate assessment of their role. Here, we quantifid the contribution
of plants and other resources to hunter-gatherer paleodiets through biomolecular methods and
statistical analysis (multivariate and Bayesian). We analyzed the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope composition (δ13Ccol, δ15N) of human remains (n = 30) and fauna/flra (n = 52) from Northern Patagonia,
and radiocarbon dated specifi individuals related to exotic domesticated plants (maize). Our results show that one-third of the overall intake was based on the systematic exploitation of local wild plants, while maize appears to have functioned as an imported edible commodity obtained from distant food
producers.
Relaciones de la Sociedad Argentina de Antropología, 2024
Se presentan los primeros estudios arqueológicos realizados en las islas de Choele Choel (provinc... more Se presentan los primeros estudios arqueológicos realizados en las islas de Choele Choel (provincia de Río Negro, Argentina), y se describen con mayor detalle los hallazgos en el sitio Fábrega. Allí, las excavaciones sobre un médano permitieron recuperar artefactos líticos y restos óseos humanos y faunísticos, compatibles con una ocupación residencial. Los resultados muestran que el conjunto es similar a otros cercanos e incluye principalmente materiales provenientes de sectores altos del valle. Sobre la base de los materiales presentes y el estudio de imágenes satelitales se propone que el sitio habría sido una ocupación en un meandro externo a la isla, incorporado al área insular por su resección. A escala microrregional, la escasez de sitios arqueológicos y la baja densidad de artefactos sugiere que las islas de Choele Choel no constituyeron un lugar destacado en momentos prehispánicos como si lo fueron para las sociedades indígenas de los últimos siglos.
En el Noreste de Patagonia se han hallado múltiples sitios con entierros humanos. En el valle del... more En el Noreste de Patagonia se han hallado múltiples sitios con entierros humanos. En el valle del río Negro los entierros comparten ciertas características, tales como ubicarse en sectores elevados y reutilizarse para realizar entierros y otras actividades. Este patrón también se observa en el valle del río Colorado y en la costa atlántica de Patagonia. Hacia el Sur del río Negro, en los bajos o "travesía", no hay información sobre sitios mortuorios, pero sí inmediatamente al Sur de la travesía, en el piedemonte y meseta de Somuncurá. En esta región los sitios funerarios se distinguen de los del Norte por ubicarse en oquedades rocosas, ser únicamente de entierro y por lo general contener acompañamiento mortuorio. Este trabajo presenta los resultados del análisis de los restos humanos del sitio Aguada Cecilio (piedemonte de Somuncurá, Río Negro, Argentina) y los discute en relación con la variabilidad del registro bioarqueológico del Noreste de Patagonia durante el Holoceno tardío. El sitio contiene únicamente restos de subadultos con signos de manipulación postmortem y una punta de proyectil asociada. Su incorporación a la información bioarqueológica regional permitió discutir la variación en el patrón funerario entre el Norte y Sur del interior del Noreste de Patagonia.
2023. González Venanzi et al. Special pet, special care. Diet, provenance, and health analyses of a dog reveal strong ties with humans in Patagonia, 2023
The introduction of the dog in Patagonia is recorded from the Late Holocene. Documents from the n... more The introduction of the dog in Patagonia is recorded from the Late Holocene. Documents from the nineteenth century indicate that dogs had various utilitarian roles among hunter-gatherers, including hunting aids, protection and war, carrying loads, and as exchange goods. Most of them had no special status, typically subsisting on food scraps and hunting leftovers, were in bad or poor physical and nutritional condition, and suffered physical abuse. Nevertheless, a select few dogs, including those of the hairless variety, received special care and attention from humans. They were in good physical and nutritional condition and appeared to have been used as companion animals of people with prestigious positions. These dogs were regularly provided with cooked food, owned horses, and even were offered sacrificed horses as a form of treatment during their illnesses. Through an interdisciplinary osteobiographical study (phenotype, age, stable isotopes –δ13C, δ15N, δ18O–, microremains of the dental calculus, paleopathology, and entheseal changes), we evaluate whether a dog recovered from a funerary context of Patagonian hunter-gatherers represents the archaeological correlate of a special position animal. The canid exhibited mobility impairments that surely prevented it from hunting large herbivores. Despite this, it was regularly fed meat from human prey and human-made meals containing fruits of Neltuma sp. and underground storage organs. Following its death, the dog was given an individual burial within a mortuary niche located in a dedicated area for human bodies. The results provide evidence that this canid held a special or distinct position, possibly indicating emotional bonds with the hunter-gatherers.
Los pueblos nómades de Río Negro, 2023
Investigación Joven, 2020
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences , 2022
This study discusses the biological and social implications of a disabling injury sufered by a La... more This study discusses the biological and social implications of a disabling injury sufered by a Late Holocene hunter-gatherer
from Northeastern Patagonia. Osseous modifcations were analysed through macroscopy, radiography, computed tomography,
and three-dimensional models. The diferential diagnoses followed bioarchaeological and modern clinical literature, and the
overall case was interpreted within the Bioarchaeology of Care theoretical framework. The individual presented a healed
fracture of the lateral tibial plateau, a highly disabling injury of the inferior limb, which constrained its locomotion and could
have caused new demands on other parts of the body. The restricted mobility produced by this type of fracture and the state
of remodelling imply that the individual received diferent levels of interpersonal attention throughout the progression of
the healing process. The model of care for this individual recognizes at least a stage of “direct support” for basic tasks in
the short-/medium-term and then “accommodation assistance” in the long-term while he became more autonomous. Apart
from thoroughly describing an infrequent injury, this study case provides clear evidence of interpersonal care strategies
among Patagonian hunter-gatherer
Revista Argentina de Antropología Biológica, 2020
En este trabajo se presenta la primera aproximación al estudio de cambios entesiales sobre restos... more En este trabajo se presenta la primera aproximación al estudio de cambios entesiales sobre restos humanos procedentes del noreste de Patagonia. Teniendo en cuenta que dos de los métodos de registro frecuentemente utilizados están basados en supuestos diferentes, "Hawkey y Merbs" y "Coimbra", se propone comparar y discutir los resultados obtenidos a partir de la aplicación de ambos y la implementación de una nueva medida de cuantificación. Para ello, se analizan elementos óseos del miembro superior e inferior en una muestra procedente del valle medio del río Negro. Se calculó el error intraobservador y el análisis de los datos se basó en dos medidas de cuantificación: la presencia de al menos un cambio y el Índice de Afectación. La comparación entre métodos muestra tendencias diferentes. Mediante Hawkey y Merbs no se observa una tendencia clara de afectación, y desde Coimbra un mayor compromiso del miembro inferior.
Magallania, 2019
RESUMEN En este trabajo se presentan los resultados del estudio del conjunto arqueológico del sit... more RESUMEN En este trabajo se presentan los resultados del estudio del conjunto arqueológico del sitio Negro Muerto 3, ubicado en el sector norte de la cuenca media del río Negro (provincia de Río Negro, Argentina). En el marco de actividades de rescate arqueológico se obtuvieron restos óseos humanos (NMI=12), artefactos líticos, restos faunísticos y alfarería. Se definió un mínimo de dos ocupaciones residenciales (fechadas entre 900 y 1.300 años Cal. AP) y una ocupación vinculada con actividades mortuorias (para el único entierro datado se obtuvo una edad de 950 años Cal. AP). Las características de la tecnología lítica (producción y uso expeditivo de artefactos confeccionados sobre rocas locales) y el patrón de explotación de los recursos (consumo de bajo número de vertebrados grandes y medianos, y de una alta diversidad de especies menores de hábitats acuáticos y/o ribereños) son congruentes con lo observado en sitios similares de la misma cuenca. Entre los aspectos más destacables y novedosos del sitio debe mencionarse el registro de Zea mays en tártaro dental, con una edad probable de 950 años Cal. AP. La presencia de esta especie doméstica fue interpretada como producto de su ingreso al área desde sectores occidentales de Norpatagonia y no como resultado de su cultivo en el ámbito local. ABSTRACT This paper presents the results of the study of Negro Muerto 3, located in the northern sector of the middle basin of the Negro River (Río Negro province, Argentina). This site is located on the left bank of the
Este trabajo se centra en el análisis de tres conjuntos bioarqueológicos altamente perturbados po... more Este trabajo se centra en el análisis de tres conjuntos bioarqueológicos altamente perturbados por la acción antrópica moderna, rescatados en el valle del río Negro (provincia de Río Negro). Su objetivo es dar a conocer los resultados del análisis cuantitativo, sexo-etario y tafonómico realizado sobre los conjuntos óseos recuperados en los sitios Fábrega, Negro Muerto 3 y Loma de los Muertos y evaluar el impacto de la incorporación de este registro a la discusión a nivel intra-sitio y regional. Los resultados de este trabajo permitieron incorporar un
nuevo sitio con evidencias inhumatorias al esquema regional, ampliar y ajustar el número de individuos y espectro etario en otros sitios, además de incorporar información novedosa acerca de prácticas de modifiación craneana y procesamiento de cadáveres. Los nuevos datos generados demuestran el potencial informativo, en términos paleodemográfios y culturales, del registro bioarqueológico altamente impactado por la acción antrópica moderna.
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Papers by Victoria Romano
insights into past interactions between these groups and their environments, as well as between
groups with diffrent economies and social structures. The Patagonia region, South American Southern
Cone, has been traditionally perceived as dominated by game hunting. This perception has changed
by recognizing a broader spectrum of diet, where local wild and exotic domesticated plants, would
have been intertwined in these hunter-gatherer lives. However, the nature of the archaeological record
preservation obscures an accurate assessment of their role. Here, we quantifid the contribution
of plants and other resources to hunter-gatherer paleodiets through biomolecular methods and
statistical analysis (multivariate and Bayesian). We analyzed the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope composition (δ13Ccol, δ15N) of human remains (n = 30) and fauna/flra (n = 52) from Northern Patagonia,
and radiocarbon dated specifi individuals related to exotic domesticated plants (maize). Our results show that one-third of the overall intake was based on the systematic exploitation of local wild plants, while maize appears to have functioned as an imported edible commodity obtained from distant food
producers.
from Northeastern Patagonia. Osseous modifcations were analysed through macroscopy, radiography, computed tomography,
and three-dimensional models. The diferential diagnoses followed bioarchaeological and modern clinical literature, and the
overall case was interpreted within the Bioarchaeology of Care theoretical framework. The individual presented a healed
fracture of the lateral tibial plateau, a highly disabling injury of the inferior limb, which constrained its locomotion and could
have caused new demands on other parts of the body. The restricted mobility produced by this type of fracture and the state
of remodelling imply that the individual received diferent levels of interpersonal attention throughout the progression of
the healing process. The model of care for this individual recognizes at least a stage of “direct support” for basic tasks in
the short-/medium-term and then “accommodation assistance” in the long-term while he became more autonomous. Apart
from thoroughly describing an infrequent injury, this study case provides clear evidence of interpersonal care strategies
among Patagonian hunter-gatherer
nuevo sitio con evidencias inhumatorias al esquema regional, ampliar y ajustar el número de individuos y espectro etario en otros sitios, además de incorporar información novedosa acerca de prácticas de modifiación craneana y procesamiento de cadáveres. Los nuevos datos generados demuestran el potencial informativo, en términos paleodemográfios y culturales, del registro bioarqueológico altamente impactado por la acción antrópica moderna.