An indentation in a 33,000-year-old right calcaneus of the ground sloth Lestodon (Xenarthra, Folivora) from Uruguay and its possible human agency

Several sites in the Americas are proposed to have evidence of human occupation before the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The timing of human colonisation of the Americas is a matter of debate due to its intrinsic interest, but also because of the implications of that arrival for the extinction of the...

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Main Author: Fariña, Richard (author)
Other Authors: Hayes, Elspeth (author), Lemoine, Luis A. (author), Fullagar, Richard (author), Tambusso, P. Sebastián (author), Varela, Luciano (author)
Format: article
Language:English
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12008/50904
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author Fariña, Richard
author2 Hayes, Elspeth
Lemoine, Luis A.
Fullagar, Richard
Tambusso, P. Sebastián
Varela, Luciano
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author_browse Fariña, Richard
Fullagar, Richard
Hayes, Elspeth
Lemoine, Luis A.
Tambusso, P. Sebastián
Varela, Luciano
author_facet Fariña, Richard
Hayes, Elspeth
Lemoine, Luis A.
Fullagar, Richard
Tambusso, P. Sebastián
Varela, Luciano
author_role author
collection COLIBRI
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Fariña Richard, Universidad de la República (Uruguay). Facultad de Ciencias. Instituto de Ciencias Geológicas.
Hayes Elspeth
Lemoine Luis A.
Fullagar Richard
Tambusso P. Sebastián, Universidad de la República (Uruguay). Facultad de Ciencias. Instituto de Ciencias Geológicas.
Varela Luciano, Universidad de la República (Uruguay). Facultad de Ciencias. Instituto de Ciencias Geológicas.
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Fariña, Richard
Hayes, Elspeth
Lemoine, Luis A.
Fullagar, Richard
Tambusso, P. Sebastián
Varela, Luciano
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025-08-04T18:01:21Z
2025-08-04T18:01:21Z
2025
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv 13 h
application/pdf
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv Fariña, R, Hayes, E, Lemoine, L [y otros autores]. "An indentation in a 33,000-year-old right calcaneus of the ground sloth Lestodon (Xenarthra, Folivora) from Uruguay and its possible human agency". Swiss Journal of Paleontology. [en línea] 2025, 144(1): 31. 13 h. DOI: 10.1186/s13358-025-00379-0
1664-2384
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12008/50904
10.1186/s13358-025-00379-0
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv en
eng
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Springer
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Swiss Journal of Paleontology, 2025, 144(1): 31.
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Licencia Creative Commons Atribución (CC - By 4.0)
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:COLIBRI
instname:Universidad de la República
instacron:Universidad de la República
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Pleistocene
Human arrival
America’s first settlers
Microscopic wear
Residues
Megafauna
Xenarthra
CT-scan
Composite tools
Giant sloth
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv An indentation in a 33,000-year-old right calcaneus of the ground sloth Lestodon (Xenarthra, Folivora) from Uruguay and its possible human agency
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Artículo
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
description Several sites in the Americas are proposed to have evidence of human occupation before the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The timing of human colonisation of the Americas is a matter of debate due to its intrinsic interest, but also because of the implications of that arrival for the extinction of the megafauna. Here, we study a notable indentation in the right calcaneus of a giant extinct ground sloth Lestodon armatus from the Arroyo del Vizcaíno site, Uruguay, dated to ~ 33 cal kyBP. We use a combination of 3D CT-scan modelling, high-resolution silicone casting, and microscopic wear and residue analysis to describe the morphology of the lesion, its associated residues, and the possible mechanisms behind its formation. Considering the indentation’s features, including its shape, depth, and the presence of organic residues, we argue that it could have been created by a penetrating object with a rounded tip, possibly a bone, ivory or hardened wood tip attached to a shaft. This evidence contributes to discussions on the dates of human arrival in South America and the potential interactions with the megafauna.
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
format article
id anni_42ed7d2d77c51a4ae67d720bf554d537
identifier_str_mv Fariña, R, Hayes, E, Lemoine, L [y otros autores]. "An indentation in a 33,000-year-old right calcaneus of the ground sloth Lestodon (Xenarthra, Folivora) from Uruguay and its possible human agency". Swiss Journal of Paleontology. [en línea] 2025, 144(1): 31. 13 h. DOI: 10.1186/s13358-025-00379-0
1664-2384
10.1186/s13358-025-00379-0
instacron_str Universidad de la República
institution Universidad de la República
instname_str Universidad de la República
language eng
language_invalid_str_mv en
network_acronym_str anni
network_name_str oai-lr-anni
oai_identifier_str oai:colibri.udelar.edu.uy:20.500.12008/50904
publishDate 2025
publishDateSort 2025
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Springer
reponame_str COLIBRI
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repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository_id_str
rights_invalid_str_mv Licencia Creative Commons Atribución (CC - By 4.0)
spelling An indentation in a 33,000-year-old right calcaneus of the ground sloth Lestodon (Xenarthra, Folivora) from Uruguay and its possible human agencyFariña, RichardHayes, ElspethLemoine, Luis A.Fullagar, RichardTambusso, P. SebastiánVarela, LucianoPleistoceneHuman arrivalAmerica’s first settlersMicroscopic wearResiduesMegafaunaXenarthraCT-scanComposite toolsGiant slothSeveral sites in the Americas are proposed to have evidence of human occupation before the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The timing of human colonisation of the Americas is a matter of debate due to its intrinsic interest, but also because of the implications of that arrival for the extinction of the megafauna. Here, we study a notable indentation in the right calcaneus of a giant extinct ground sloth Lestodon armatus from the Arroyo del Vizcaíno site, Uruguay, dated to ~ 33 cal kyBP. We use a combination of 3D CT-scan modelling, high-resolution silicone casting, and microscopic wear and residue analysis to describe the morphology of the lesion, its associated residues, and the possible mechanisms behind its formation. Considering the indentation’s features, including its shape, depth, and the presence of organic residues, we argue that it could have been created by a penetrating object with a rounded tip, possibly a bone, ivory or hardened wood tip attached to a shaft. This evidence contributes to discussions on the dates of human arrival in South America and the potential interactions with the megafauna.CSIC: I+D 2018, ID 335SpringerFariña Richard, Universidad de la República (Uruguay). Facultad de Ciencias. Instituto de Ciencias Geológicas.Hayes ElspethLemoine Luis A.Fullagar RichardTambusso P. Sebastián, Universidad de la República (Uruguay). Facultad de Ciencias. Instituto de Ciencias Geológicas.Varela Luciano, Universidad de la República (Uruguay). Facultad de Ciencias. Instituto de Ciencias Geológicas.2025-08-04T18:01:21Z2025-08-04T18:01:21Z2025Artículoinfo:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion13 happlication/pdfFariña, R, Hayes, E, Lemoine, L [y otros autores]. "An indentation in a 33,000-year-old right calcaneus of the ground sloth Lestodon (Xenarthra, Folivora) from Uruguay and its possible human agency". Swiss Journal of Paleontology. [en línea] 2025, 144(1): 31. 13 h. DOI: 10.1186/s13358-025-00379-01664-2384https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12008/5090410.1186/s13358-025-00379-0reponame:COLIBRIinstname:Universidad de la Repúblicainstacron:Universidad de la RepúblicaenengSwiss Journal of Paleontology, 2025, 144(1): 31.Las obras depositadas en el Repositorio se rigen por la Ordenanza de los Derechos de la Propiedad Intelectual de la Universidad de la República.(Res. Nº 91 de C.D.C. de 8/III/1994 – D.O. 7/IV/1994) y por la Ordenanza del Repositorio Abierto de la Universidad de la República (Res. Nº 16 de C.D.C. de 07/10/2014)info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessLicencia Creative Commons Atribución (CC - By 4.0)oai:colibri.udelar.edu.uy:20.500.12008/509042026-04-14T10:10:53Z
spellingShingle An indentation in a 33,000-year-old right calcaneus of the ground sloth Lestodon (Xenarthra, Folivora) from Uruguay and its possible human agency
Fariña, Richard
Pleistocene
Human arrival
America’s first settlers
Microscopic wear
Residues
Megafauna
Xenarthra
CT-scan
Composite tools
Giant sloth
status_str publishedVersion
title An indentation in a 33,000-year-old right calcaneus of the ground sloth Lestodon (Xenarthra, Folivora) from Uruguay and its possible human agency
title_full An indentation in a 33,000-year-old right calcaneus of the ground sloth Lestodon (Xenarthra, Folivora) from Uruguay and its possible human agency
title_fullStr An indentation in a 33,000-year-old right calcaneus of the ground sloth Lestodon (Xenarthra, Folivora) from Uruguay and its possible human agency
title_full_unstemmed An indentation in a 33,000-year-old right calcaneus of the ground sloth Lestodon (Xenarthra, Folivora) from Uruguay and its possible human agency
title_short An indentation in a 33,000-year-old right calcaneus of the ground sloth Lestodon (Xenarthra, Folivora) from Uruguay and its possible human agency
title_sort An indentation in a 33,000-year-old right calcaneus of the ground sloth Lestodon (Xenarthra, Folivora) from Uruguay and its possible human agency
topic Pleistocene
Human arrival
America’s first settlers
Microscopic wear
Residues
Megafauna
Xenarthra
CT-scan
Composite tools
Giant sloth
url https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12008/50904