Knowing the past to empower the present in herding communities of Antofagasta de la Sierra (Southern Argentine Puna)

GRANT, JENNIFER

ANkara

Congreso; 13th ICAZ International Conference; 2018

Middle East Technical University

Antofagasta de la Sierra is a small town in the Southern Argentina Puna, in a region known for its extreme aridity. Zooarchaeological studies demonstrate that South American camelids were a key resource in the development of Andean societies in the region, from early hunter-gatherers through to later pastoralist groups. Although pastoralism continues as the main economic activity of the area, the fundamental role played by the llama (Lama glama) has declined due to a variety of factors, including work migration to cities, and the insertion of exotic animals into local herds. This has led to different challenges, such as the negative environmental impact caused by the introduction of foreign, ill-adapted species ?vis-à-vis camelids? into fragile ecosystems such as the puna. This goes hand-in-hand with a concomitant loss of ancestral knowledge in respect to camelid management. Nevertheless, this process is happening at the same time as a more general, positive change towards the autochthonous camelid and the ethnicities underpinning it is occurring. This change is influenced by a growing local affluence linked to tourism. Here, we present the first steps towards a collaborative strengthening of the links the community maintains with its cultural tangible and intangible heritage. Our aim is to generate participative strategies that allow for the sustainability of cultural and natural resources through active engagement with, and by, local agents. We maintain that heritage training and education are the key to the future continuity and success of these activities. Crucial to all this is an understanding of past camelid herding.