Agricultural plantations in Uruguay and surrounding areas

 D.Anton

There is abundant information about the transhumant nature of the peoples of the coasts of Para Guazú (Guaraní name of the Rio de la Plata) before the European invasion.
In referring to the peoples who inhabited the banks of the great river, the Spanish chroniclers repeatedly pointed out that the nations that lived there did not cultivate, which only fed on fishing and hunting, which knew no population or fixed place, That they were nomadic people.
However, in the continent of maize and tobacco, and in an area of ​​easy communication such as the region of Para Guazú, it is unimaginable that there could be people who did not know agriculture.
The European chroniclers, when referring to the productions of several local communities - for example Chandules-Carians-Guaraníes and Chaná-Timbúes - pointed out repeatedly that these were cultivating villages of abati or maize, pumpkin, manioc and other crops. Given the geographical proximity between the aforementioned towns and the Charrúas and other similar nations (they lived in the same area) and their close relations, which were proved by Ulrico Smidtl himself, chronicler of the expedition of Pedro de Mendoza in 1535-15362, They are sure to have frequent contacts, including trade exchange activities. For this reason, there is no doubt that the Charrúas and Miinuanes habitually consumed agricultural products, either planted by their neighbors and obtained through trade or cultivated by themselves. Although there are no specific descriptions of crops in the Charrúas villages, it should not be forgotten that the first contacts of those who kept chronicles took place within a framework of military aggression that prevented us to ascertain precisely how the economy of these native peoples worked. On the other hand, the very fragmentary Spanish version of the original charrú-minuán culture was limited to coastal camps (where fishing was the central activity). It is very likely, as in several towns of Chaco that outside the coast, agriculture is a complementary activity associated with small farms hidden in the mountains, along the annual transhumant itineraries. This was certainly the case in the case of the ancient Gueno-Minuanes communities who, we believe, inhabited the region known today as "Cerritos de Indios" in the Atlantic-Lacunar region.
At the very least, it is certain that agriculture was a secondary activity in almost all peoples. Although in the case of some communities this could be practically nonexistent, in others it was a habitual practice.
In the last years, in the archaeological studies of the "Cerritos de Indios", corn silicofitolites, beetles, squashes and achiras were found, confirming the existence of agricultural activities before the European invasion.

From Amerrique, Orphans of Paradise, Danilo Anton, Piriguazu Ediciones.