ABSTRACT
There is no detailed history of the archaeology of South America, only incomplete sketches or partial treatments within global histories (i.e. Willey and Sabloff 1984; Trigger 1989), or highly specific national regional histories (e.g. Fernández 1982; Fernández Distel 1985; Ortiz-Troncoso 1991; Boschin 1991; Van der Hammen and Ortiz-Troncoso 1992; López and Bracco Boksar 1994; Funari 1995; Politis 1995). This chapter focuses on the recent history of the archaeology of hunter-gatherers in South America. After a general review of the principal research trends, we examine the case of Fuego-Patagonia in some depth. Finally, by discussing particular properties of the archaeological record, we argue that evolutionary theory provides a useful framework for the study of the archaeology of hunter-gatherers in South America.
