Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 66 (2025) 105281 Available online 27 June 2025 2352-409X/© 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies. Record of carnivorous mammals in pre-Hispanic hunter-gatherer sites in the southern extreme of the La Plata basin (South America): taphonomic and cultural implications Alejandro Acosta a , Daniel Loponte a , Natacha Buc a,* , Ana Guarido b ,B´ arbara Mazza a , Noelia Bortolotto c , Andres Gascue c a Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y T´ecnicas – Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Pensamiento Latinoamericano, 3 de febrero 1378, C1426BJN Ciudad Aut´onoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina b Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Pensamiento Latinoamericano, 3 de febrero 1378, C1426BJN Ciudad Aut´onoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina c Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Departamento de Sistemas Agrarios y Paisajes Culturales, Ruta Nacional N◦ 9y N◦ 15, CP 27000 Rocha, Uruguay ARTICLE INFO Keywords: Carnivorous/omnivorous Taphonomy Zooarchaeology Paran´a-Plata Basin Late Holoecene ABSTRACT In this paper, we analyze and discuss the taphonomic and cultural implications of the carnivore/omnivore mammal record recovered from 37 archaeological sites associated with complex hunter-gatherer groups, as well as one archaeological site linked to a forager-horticulturalist population that occupied the southern end of the La Plata Basin during the late Holocene. The role of carnivores as taphonomic agents in the formation of archae- ofaunal and bioarchaeological assemblages is evaluated. Additionally, we examine a range of cultural aspects to assess their significance as a food resource and their technological role as providers of raw materials such as bones, teeth, and skins. From a similar perspective, we analyze their involvement in mortuary practices, given that remains of different carnivore species have been recorded at several of the sites studied. The presence of pre- Columbian domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) in association with and in close proximity to human burials suggests that they were especially valued. 1. Introduction From the 1980s to the present, the role of carnivorous/omnivorous mammals as active agents in forming the fossil record has been widely debated in both taphonomic and zooarchaeological research. These studies, including numerous actualistic investigations, have signifi- cantly enhanced our understanding of the interactions between carni- vores and humans and how these interactions influenced the formation of archaeological sites. To this end, diverse analyses have been con- ducted, focusing on bone modifications and traces produced by different species and on processes like removing and accumulating remains. These studies have also provided essential data for evaluating paleo- ecological models and hypotheses of paleoenvironmental character. The influence of carnivores is shaped by various ecological factors, including competition, the ethological and ecological traits of the predators involved, and the availability of prey in the environment (e.g. Gifford 1981, 1991; Binford, 1981; Haynes, 1982; Behrensmeyer and Kidwell, 1985; Lyman, 1994; among others). Research into the role of carnivores as taphonomic agents focused on both wild species (e.g. ca- nids and felids) and domesticated animals, particularly dogs (Canis familiaris; e.g. Binford, 1981; Kent, 1981, 1993; Walters, 1984; Yravedra et al., 2021). Although much of the taphonomic research was devoted to understanding the processes shaping archaeofaunal assemblages, it was also helpful in assessing the impact of carnivores on human remains. Identifying archaeological evidence of human bones damaged by car- nivores is critical for understanding their potential involvement post- burial and exploring cultural practices surrounding death. For example, these findings can contribute to discussions regarding prac- tices such as the aerial exposure of bodies before their final burial (e.g. Martín, 2006; Smith, 2006; Colard et al., 2014; among others). In South America, particularly in Argentina, taphonomic research—both general and explicitly related to carnivore activi- ty—began in the late 1980s (e.g., Borrero, 1988a, 1988b). Since the 1990s, numerous zooarchaeological and taphonomic studies have been * Corresponding author. E-mail address: natachabuc@gmail.com (N. Buc). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jasrep https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105281 Received 23 December 2024; Received in revised form 10 June 2025; Accepted 16 June 2025