Painted fish, eaten fish: Artistic and archaeofaunal representations in Tierra del Fuego, Southern South America

This paper presents a case-study of the management of fish species—particularly patagonian blennies (Eleginops maclovinus)—in subsistence and ceremonial-artistic activities in the Beagle Channel area. Archaeological and ethnographic records representative of the XVI to early XX centuries are integrated and analysed with the aim of discussing the existence of a dietary avoidance of certain potentially high-yield species, possibly as a result of ceremonial activities. Ecological, taphonomic, and technological aspects are analysed, showing that their influence in the archaeofaunal patterns have been minimal. The biases of the ethnographic records about fishing and body painting activities are also taken into consideration, and the information provided by them is considered accordingly. The results are discussed in the light of a series of expectations derived from the optimality theory models. Some of the advantages and limitations of these models are in turn pointed out.