El Sur del Sur: The indigenous peoples (II)

El Sur del Sur
The Southernmost South

THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Rush Canoe. Huarpes

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.

Wooden Carving.
Araucanians

Mocovíes driving horses, F. Paucke

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.

Pottery, Guarani.

Motif taken from Chirihuano pottery

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