Huarpes

The Huarpes , are an indigenous ethnos group of Argentine which lived until the 16th century the area of the Kuyún or Cuyo . They were thus widespread on the vast territories of the provinces of San Luis, Mendoza and San Juan, including the northern part of that of Neuquén.

Subdivisions

They were subdivided in five great groups, corresponding each one to a geographical location, like with some characteristics of language. One distinguishes Huarpes Allentiak (in the province of San Juan), Huarpes Milkayak (in the north of the province of Mendoza), the huarpes Chikiyam also called algarroberos (in the south of the province of Mendoza) and Huarpes Huanacache or laguneros (inhabitants of the lagoons of Guanacache - in the North-East of Mendoza and the North-West of San Luis), finally in the center and in the north of Neuquén, those were which the mapuches called Pehuenche S until the middle of the 18th century.

Pehuenches and Ranquels

In the middle of the 18th century, the Pehuenche S of Neuquén were intensely assimilated by Mapuches, so that one does not know with certainty the autodenomination that gave old Pehuenches. It is thought that could be Penken , in which case the fifth group of huarpes would be the group of Huarpes Penken. What one in any case knows of these " pehuenches" is that, during the XVIIIe century, they advanced towards the North-East and settled in a zone which corresponds today to most of the territory of the province of the Pampa and in the south of the provinces of Córdoba and San Luis forming over there the mapuchized ethnos group of the Ranquel S.

Lifestyle

They built mixed ground stone houses either or of straw, and this, according to the place where they lived. They were sedentary, very gifted in basket making (the Huanacaches or " Laguneros" were characterized by their containers woven from fibers and intended to transport water. They were perfectly tight). They built also boats woven in this manner and intended to sail on the lagoons known as Lagunas de Guanacache which always bear their name. These wherries were rather similar to the " caballitos" of Roseau which is always used by the Indians Urus to sail on the Lac Titicaca. In addition to their excellence in basket making, they were very good potters, hunters and fishermen. They cultivated the dad (or patata) and the Maïs, but in rudimentary form, though they built drains of irrigation, as in the valley of Huentata - Mendoza . Lastly, they collected the fruits (gathering), especially those of the alpataco , a species of prosopis or creole caroubier and other plants.

Sociology and religion

The chiefs were polygamous and this quality of chief was hereditary, as in good of other ethnos groups. Two habits was very particular for them, Lévirat and Sororat.

Lévirat : to died husband, the widow and her children pass under the protection of the brother puiné of the deceased one.

Sororat : A man who Marie is acquired the right to marry with the remaining sisters of the wife.

Huarpes believed in a called central divinity Hunuc Huar . They adored also the sun, the moon, the rivers, and stars. With their death, one laid down them on the back head dirigéee towards the Cordillera, place where Hunuc Huar resided.

External bonds

universe of the Indians huarpe of Guanacache: discussion with Gregorio Manzur (video of May 2006)

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