Changes in projectile design and size of prey reveal the central role of Fishtail points in megafauna hunting in South America.

Fishtail projectile points are the earliest widespread projectile type in South America, and share chronology and techno-morphology with Clovis, the oldest North American projectile type. Both were temporally associated with late Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions. Although the elusive direct evidence of human exploitation of megafauna in South America had kept Fishtails out of the extinction debate, a recent paper showed a strong relationship between the temporal density and spatial distribution of megafauna and Fishtail projectile points, and proposed that this weapon was designed and used for megafauna hunting, contributing to their extinction. If so, this technology must be distinctly different from post-FPP technologies (i.e., early Holocene projectile points), used for hunting smaller prey, in terms of distribution and functional properties. In this paper, we explore the changes in projectile point technology, as well as the body mass of potential megafaunal prey, and show that Fishtails were strongly related to the largest extinct megafaunal species.

Metodología de actividades físicas para adultos mayores obesos con hábitos sedentarios / Methodology of physical activities for obese older adults with sedentary habits

Resumen Actualmente el número de personas obesas aumenta considerablemente, lo que se convierte en una preocupación, debido a los problemas de salud que genera esta enfermedad. Aunque la actividad física es considerada como beneficiosa, en personas con sobrepeso puede tener algunos efectos negativos. La presente investigación se llevó a cabo en la circunscripción 34 del Consejo Popular Centro Histórico, de Nueva Gerona, en la Isla de la Juventud, Cuba, con el objetivo de proponer una metodología de actividades físicas para adultos mayores obesos con hábitos sedentarios de 65 años y más, de dicha comunidad, aprovechando el medio acuático marino. Para ello, se utilizó una metodología mixta, basada en métodos descriptivos: analítico-sintético y lógico-abstracto, así como mediante el análisis experimental como: observación científica, encuestas, entrevistas; se emplearon además los estadísticos para el procesamiento de la información obtenida, moda y mediana. Como resultado de esta metodología, se elevó el estilo de vida lo que contribuyó a la disminución de grasas en los adultos mayores obesos de esta comunidad, con el aprovechamiento del medio acuático marino.

Abstract Currently the number of obese people increases considerably, becoming a concern because of the health problems caused by this disease. Although physical activity is considered beneficial, in overweight people it can have some negative effects. This research was carried out in the 34th circumscription of the Consejo Popular Centro Histórico, of Nueva Gerona in the Isla de la Juventud, Cuba with the objective of proposing a methodology of physical activities for obese older adults with sedentary habits of 65 years of age and older from this community taking advantage of the marine aquatic environment. For this purpose, a mixed methodology was used, based on descriptive methods: analytical-synthetic and abstract logic, as well as through experimental analysis such as: scientific observation, surveys, interviews; statistic methods were also used to process the information obtained, mode and median. As a result of this methodology, the lifestyle was improved and contributed to the reduction of fat in obese older adults in this community taking advantage of the marine aquatic environment.

Human cranium of Candonga Cave site and its implications for the initial peopling of South America.

The aim of this paper is to analyze the morphology of a skull from Candonga Cave (central Argentina), dating to the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, and to discuss its implications for the early peopling of South-America by Palaeoamerican and Amerindian populations. Although this cranium is fragmented, impeding the standard morphometric analysis, an alternative methodology ad hoc was implemented in order to obtain relevant information about the South American people origins. Results of measurements provide new information to reinforce the hypothesis that Paleoamerican crania possess similar morphological traits to those of current Fueguian populations, as previous studies have claimed, and to suggest that the cranium of Candonga has strong morphological affinities with Early Holocene specimens from Lagoa Santa (Brazil) and Late Holocene of Beagle Channel (Argentina), both belonging to Paleoamerican morphology.