Heritage conservation hazard in archaeological sites in Santa María Valley (NW Argentina)

A geoarchaeological approach

Bibliographic Data

ID12133498
AuthorsMaría Marta Sampietro Vattuone (0000-0002-7681-070X, Laboratorio de Geoarqueología Universidad Nacional de Tucumán Miguel Lillo 205 San Miguel de Tucumán Argentina, corresponding author), José Luis Peña-Monné (0000-0003-4067-8222, Departamento de Geografía y Ordenación del Territorio Universidad de Zaragoza (España) Zaragoza Spain), Jose Luís Peña‐Monné (Universidad de Zaragoza), Marta Amelia Vattuone (0000-0002-9299-1061, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Paula Lucía Medina (National University of Tucumán)
Year2020
Volume37
Issue1
Pages164-179
Publication date2020-09-10
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGeoarchaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0883-6353 • E-ISSN: 1520-6548
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/gea.21823
OpenAlexW3085718214
LanguageES
Citations received1
References cited24

Alluvial fans are typical geomorphic features of arid and semiarid mountain areas. Most archaeological sites in Santa María valley (NW Argentina) are located on this kind of landform. The aims of this paper are to describe the geomorphological context and assess the state of conservation of four archaeological sites on the piedmont of Sierra de Quilmes (NW Argentina) from a geoarchaeological perspective; to diagnose the geomorphological processes affecting the sites over the last 50 years; to assess their vulnerability and conservation hazard; and to propose some corrective measures. By mapping with remote sensors (e.g., drones, aerial photographs, and satellite images) and conducting field surveys, we found that most archaeological sites are set on the H1 and H2 units of the alluvial fans. and that their geomorphological dynamic has increased in the last 50 years. The main active processes are debris flows, overflows, and mudflows, accompanied by the development of rills, sheetflood, and aeolian deflation. Human impact is also severe. The four sites need mitigation measures and a structured management plan. To date, no studies of this kind have been done rin the region, although one of the sites has been partially reconstructed for touristic purposes

Aeolian processes · Alluvial fan · Alluvium · Archaeology · Context (archaeology · Geography · Geomorphology · Landform · Landslide · Mudflow · Geology and Paleoclimatology Research · Landslides and related hazards · Soil erosion and sediment transport · Geology

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