Ethnographic map of the province of Jujuy, Argentina
Ethnographic map of the province of Jujuy, Argentina - Prehispanic population
During the prehispanic period, the Oguaguaca culture settled in the area between the river basins of the Grande, Lavayén, San Francisco (in the province of Jujuy), Zenta, Iruya, Lipeo, Bermejo (province of Salta), Tarija and Bermejo (department of Tarija in Bolivia). As can be seen in the map, the Quebrada de Humahuaca - which later received this name eponymous from its original inhabitants - was included in that region and was an area of obligatory passage for trade and migration. For this reason, it received influences from various peoples, including the Incas who, between the years 1430 and 1480, annexed this region to his empire.
The original inhabitants of the Quebrada, then, were the omaguacas, who integrated a confederation of ethnic groups dedicated to agriculture, cultivating mainly corn (Zea mays), and in a lesser proportion papa (Solanum tuberosum) and quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa). They used their own techniques of cultivation, which later modified the Inca way, as can be seen in the localities of Coctaca and Alfarcito, where some structures persist. They already used the llamas (Lama glama) for domestic tasks and had developed the fabric from their wool. Pottery also occupied a prominent place in its activities. The confederation congregated diverse factions, among them the one of the same omaguaca town, the uquías, the paromamarcas or purmamarcas, the tilcaras, the tumbayas, the tilianes, the yavis, the chuyes, the quilatas, the casabindos and, already in the neighborhoods of San Salvador, the argamatas and yalas. For the most part, those names have remained as place-names of the most well-known localities in the region.
In the north and west, the Oguaguacas had frontiers with Atacameño factions, while in the southern sector inhabitants were clearly included in the Diaguita culture, such as the jujuyes, for whom the province is named.
The strategic nature of the Quebrada de Humahuaca made the Oguaguacas a militarily prepared people. They built fortifications in stone, "pucaras", strategically located in zones of preferential vision towards the Quebrada, from which they could fight with different characteristic elements, such as bows, arrows, hammers carved in stone, boleadoras. Both the Incas and the Spaniards experienced the omaguaca resistance at the time.
The most famous of the omaguacas leaders was Viltipoco, who from Purmamarca and reuniting under his leadership also the diaguita, chichas, apatamas, churumatas, lules peoples, faced the Spaniards during the 16th century. After the third foundation of Jujuy in April of 1593, the lieutenant and governor Francisco de Argañarás y Murguía took over the domain of the inhabitants of the Quebrada de Humahuaca, in order to achieve a free passage to Upper Peru. Thus, using the city as a base for military operations, in 1594 he captured Viltipoco who then died in prison, while awaiting his "trial" in the city of Santiago del Estero.
In a letter to the Audiencia of Charcas (now Bolivia) Argañaraz affirmed with total conviction and self-assurance: "Prendí a Biltipoco, principal tirano de los naturales y a todos sus capitanes, con cuya prisión y muerte está llana la tierra y los caminos seguros, porque los dichos yndios rresiven el sancto baptismo y doctrina xptiana y obedecen los mandamientos de buestra real justicia. "(*)
Since the Spanish landing in America and in the name of "civilization", arrogance, the unbridled desire for power and to impose the Catholic religion, laid the foundations on which the whole history with which we have lived and grown in our country. Under the belief that looting, torture, eviction and genocide were "normal", we accepted from school those methods that were used to dominate and even exterminate the original inhabitants of the region, of the country in general. JJust until today, for a very short time, society is working to try to repair so much damage, starting by reviewing history, redefining the actors and their roles, and the responsibilities that corresponds to each and everyone.
During the prehispanic period, the Oguaguaca culture settled in the area between the river basins of the Grande, Lavayén, San Francisco (in the province of Jujuy), Zenta, Iruya, Lipeo, Bermejo (province of Salta), Tarija and Bermejo (department of Tarija in Bolivia). As can be seen in the map, the Quebrada de Humahuaca - which later received this name eponymous from its original inhabitants - was included in that region and was an area of obligatory passage for trade and migration. For this reason, it received influences from various peoples, including the Incas who, between the years 1430 and 1480, annexed this region to his empire.
The original inhabitants of the Quebrada, then, were the omaguacas, who integrated a confederation of ethnic groups dedicated to agriculture, cultivating mainly corn (Zea mays), and in a lesser proportion papa (Solanum tuberosum) and quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa). They used their own techniques of cultivation, which later modified the Inca way, as can be seen in the localities of Coctaca and Alfarcito, where some structures persist. They already used the llamas (Lama glama) for domestic tasks and had developed the fabric from their wool. Pottery also occupied a prominent place in its activities. The confederation congregated diverse factions, among them the one of the same omaguaca town, the uquías, the paromamarcas or purmamarcas, the tilcaras, the tumbayas, the tilianes, the yavis, the chuyes, the quilatas, the casabindos and, already in the neighborhoods of San Salvador, the argamatas and yalas. For the most part, those names have remained as place-names of the most well-known localities in the region.
In the north and west, the Oguaguacas had frontiers with Atacameño factions, while in the southern sector inhabitants were clearly included in the Diaguita culture, such as the jujuyes, for whom the province is named.
The strategic nature of the Quebrada de Humahuaca made the Oguaguacas a militarily prepared people. They built fortifications in stone, "pucaras", strategically located in zones of preferential vision towards the Quebrada, from which they could fight with different characteristic elements, such as bows, arrows, hammers carved in stone, boleadoras. Both the Incas and the Spaniards experienced the omaguaca resistance at the time.
The most famous of the omaguacas leaders was Viltipoco, who from Purmamarca and reuniting under his leadership also the diaguita, chichas, apatamas, churumatas, lules peoples, faced the Spaniards during the 16th century. After the third foundation of Jujuy in April of 1593, the lieutenant and governor Francisco de Argañarás y Murguía took over the domain of the inhabitants of the Quebrada de Humahuaca, in order to achieve a free passage to Upper Peru. Thus, using the city as a base for military operations, in 1594 he captured Viltipoco who then died in prison, while awaiting his "trial" in the city of Santiago del Estero.
In a letter to the Audiencia of Charcas (now Bolivia) Argañaraz affirmed with total conviction and self-assurance: "Prendí a Biltipoco, principal tirano de los naturales y a todos sus capitanes, con cuya prisión y muerte está llana la tierra y los caminos seguros, porque los dichos yndios rresiven el sancto baptismo y doctrina xptiana y obedecen los mandamientos de buestra real justicia. "(*)
Since the Spanish landing in America and in the name of "civilization", arrogance, the unbridled desire for power and to impose the Catholic religion, laid the foundations on which the whole history with which we have lived and grown in our country. Under the belief that looting, torture, eviction and genocide were "normal", we accepted from school those methods that were used to dominate and even exterminate the original inhabitants of the region, of the country in general. JJust until today, for a very short time, society is working to try to repair so much damage, starting by reviewing history, redefining the actors and their roles, and the responsibilities that corresponds to each and everyone.