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The Indigenous People
With the arrival of Spanish conquerors, the indigenous peoples chances to develop
their culture were cut short. Only some of them managed to survive the changes
imposed upon them by historical evolution.
In the Northwest
The Diaguita culture was the most complex and numerous of aboriginal populations.
About 200,000 natives compounded this people when the Spaniards arrived. They
engaged in farming, building canals in order to water their corn, pumpkin and
kidney bean crops. They adored Sun, thunder and lightning. They had similar
leaderships to the caciques’ chieftancy and their families were monogamous.
In the sierras
In the area of central sierras, the Comechingones and the Sanavirones had settled
down. They lived by hunting, gathering and fishing, they grew corn, kidney beans
and pumpkin. They adored the Sun and the Moon.
The Cuyo Area
The culture of Huarpes occupied the present provinces of San Juan, San Luis
and Mendoza. They farmed, grew corn and hunted guanacos and nandus. They worked
ceramics and believed in a supreme being.
Pampa and Patagonia Region
In Pampa and Patagonia there was a large amount of communities such as the Querandís
and the Araucanians coming from Chile, apart from the Tehuelches and the Onas
in the south and the Pampas in the center. They had common characteristics.
They hunted hares, foxes, nandus and also fished. They lived in groups led by
one cacique.
The Neuquén Area
The Pehuenche culture was settled down in Neuquén, living by hunting
and gathering and they were grouped in bands made up by families and they believed
in a supreme being who dwelt beyond the sea.
The Chaco Area
In Chaco there were the Tobas, Mocovíes and Abipones. They basically
hunted and gathered. They were integrated into a system of bands led by one
cacique. The families were monogamous but polygamy was allowed to chiefs.
The Littoral and Mesopotamian Region
The Guarani culture prevailed in this area. They were sedentary and farming
people, who lived in large houses accommodating several families. They believed
in a lost paradise where they would return some day.
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