Multequina ISSN: 0327-9375 ISSN: 1852-7329 [email protected] Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

García, Alejandro; Martínez Carretero, Eduardo Corn consumption in native populations of Mendoza (central- western Argentina) and its relation to environmental conditions Multequina, vol. 28, 2019, -, pp. 5-20 Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas Argentina

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Corn consumption in native populations of Mendoza (central-western Argentina) and its relation to environmental conditions Consumo de maíz por poblaciones nativas de Mendoza (centro-oeste argentino) y su relación con las condiciones ambientales

Alejandro García1 and Eduardo Martínez Carretero2 1 CIGEOBIO (CONICET-Universidad Nacional de San Juan) 2 Geobotánica y Fitgeografía (IADIZA-CONICET)

Abstract In this article we analyze data on hydroxyapatite δ13C and δ15N from dated human bones, in order to evaluate the variability of corn eating, the possible incidence of the Little Ice Age (LIA) environmental changes on the regional production and consumption of this cereal by the native populations of central-western Argentina. We also evaluate whether or not the average curves are representative of sub-regional situations. Our results show that: a) the regional δ13Cap and δ15N curves are only partially representative for the situations recorded in San Juan and Men- doza. b) When considering the diverse environments of Mendoza, the provincial average curves and the sub-regional ones show significant differences. c) There are no signs of a drastic decrease in consumption during the Inca period. d) The decline in maize consumption appears in only one sub-region of during ca. 1777-1808 AD and no environmental incidence was detected.

Resumen En este artículo se analiza la información isotópica de δC13 (hidroxiapatita) y δN15 de huesos humanos, a fin de evaluar la variabilidad del consumo de maíz, la posible incidencia de los cambios ambientales de la Pequeña Edad del Hielo sobre la producción regional y el consumo de este cereal, y si las curvas promedio son representativas de las situaciones zonales. Nuestros resultados indican que: a) las curvas δCap13 y δN15 son sólo parcialmente representativas de las situaciones regionales registradas en Mendoza y San Juan. b) Cuando se consideran los distintos ambientes de Mendoza, la curva promedio provincial y las subregionales muestran diferencias significativas. c) No hay evidencias de un descenso drástico del consumo de maíz durante el período incaico. d) La

Multequina 28: 5-20, 2019 5 disminución del consumo de maíz aparece en una sola subregión de Mendoza, durante ca. 1777- 1808 d.C. y no se detectaron incidencias ambientales en la misma.

Key words: Central-western Argentina, diet, Palabras clave: Centro-oeste argentino, dieta, environmental change, Inca, stable isotopes, cambio ambiental, incas, isótopos estables, Little Ice Age, maize Pequeña Edad de Hielo, maíz

Introduction (LP 309), and in Agua de la Cueva at a level dated 1450 ± 40 BP (Beta 26248-1) Central-northern Mendoza is the south- and other of an age between 1450 and ern boundary of the dispersion of pre- 1530 AD (Durán & García, 1989). The hispanic cultivation of maize in the arid oldest record in this area comes from Argentinean west (Gil 1997-1998; Gil et the site Agua de la Tinaja (Bárcena et al., 2010, 2014). The presence of corn in al., 1985) and could be associated with a the native food was already highlighted date of 2340 ± 80 BP (Beta 8580). in the mid-twentieth century by Canals Succeeding isotopic analyzes allowed Frau (1946), at a time when regional ar- us to consider another type of evidence chaeological and documentary research (human bones) and infer the propor- was in its early stage and the available tion of corn in the indigenous diet of information was very scarce. Subsequent Mendoza and San Juan (e.g. Gil et al. works allowed for the broadening of 2009, 2010). A recent regional trend this vision and registering the presence of hydroxyapatite δ13C (δ13Cap) points of other plant resources in the local diet out that the consumption of maize by (e.g., Bárcena et al., 1985, Durán & Gar- native groups in central-western Ar- cía, 1989; García, 1992). Maize has been gentina (provinces of San Juan and registered only in two sub-regions of Mendoza) would have decreased since Mendoza. In the Huentota Valley maize the Inca times due to climatic changes remains appeared at the Memorial de la recorded between 1370 and 1750 AD Bandera site (Chiavazza, 2015), associat- (Gil et al. 2014). This hypothesis com- ed with a date of 1230 ± 60 BP (LP 2644). prises a number of components open In the pre-Andean valleys and the neigh- to discussion, including the represen- boring eastern precordilleran sector, the tativeness of the proposed regional findings were more numerous. In Cueva curve, the decline in indigenous maize del Toro, corn appeared in contexts cor- consumption since the Inca period, the responding to the period 600-1530 AD incidence of the Little Ice Age (LIA) in (García, 1988); in Los Conitos 1 and 2 a drastic fall in maize production, and (Cortegoso, 2006) it was part of contexts the role of maize in the indigenous diet dated between 1050 ± 40 (Uru 0250) and change during Spanish conquest. An al- 1560 ± 50 BP (Uru 0251); in San Ignacio ternative reading of the same database (Gasco et al., 2011) appeared at a level offers a different vision for the province dated to 1310 ± 40 BP (Uru 0301), in El of Mendoza and for the sub-regions Jagüelito Cave (García, 1992) with dates that contributed with samples for the of 1050 ± 80 (I 14291) and 980 ± 50 BP isotopic studies.

6 A. García & E. Martínez Carretero Materials and Methods Five geographical zones were differ- entiated for the samples (Figure 1): a) The analyzed data were extracted from the lacunar area of the Northeast; b) the Gil et al. (2014). The sub-regional study pre-Andean valleys of the Northwest, of Mendoza comprised 28 samples with including Uspallata Valley and nearby δ13Cap data (Table 1). To compare the sites; c) the central valley of Huentota provincial trends with the average curves (where the city of Mendoza is located); we considered 73 samples from Mendoza d) Barrancas and nearby sites, in the and 44 from San Juan containing δ13Cap badlands near the middle stretch of the or δ15N data. A sample obtained from the Mendoza River; e) the Jaurúa Valley, Inca mummy of Cerro Aconcagua was from where come the samples of Cápiz not included because the victim would and San Carlos. Provincial and sub- not have belong to local populations regional temporal trends of the isotopic (Bray et al., 2005). information for δ15N and δ13Cap were Although not all C contribution to 4 examined by plotting Loess curves gen- the diet comes from the consumption erated with the PAST3 software, using a of corn (Cadwallader et al., 2012; Llano 0.6 smoothing parameter (Figures 2-5). & Ugan, 2014), this is the most likely We examined the δ13Cap and δ15N curves source, not only because the informa- of San Juan to compare them with those tion on the apatite reflects carbohydrate of Mendoza and test the representative- sources ( & Norr, 1993), but ness of the regional average curves. also due to the scant presence in the re- gional archaeological record of other C4 o CAM vegetables, such as amaranth, Environmental framework reeds, or cacti. Nevertheless, this point The center-north of Mendoza presents, is discussed below. Gil et al. (2014) con- from west to east, three large morpho- sider that δ13Cap values close to –8‰ structural units: the Cordillera, Pied- reflect approximately 50% of the diet. mont, and the Plain. Within these units, Based on this calculation and the disper- there are environmental differences that sion of values recorded at the regional give rise to multiple sub-regions. Among level, we have considered a scale of corn them, we consider in this work the inter- consumption that regards the categories mountain valleys of the Northwest, the very high (greater than –7‰), high (–7.1 Huentota and Jaurúa valleys, the north- to –9‰), medium (–9.1 to –11‰), low eastern lagoon zone, and the Barrancas (–11.1‰ to –13‰), and very low (less badlands. In all these areas agricultural than –13‰). activity was always possible through ir- As many of the analyzed samples have rigation. no contextual data, it is not possible to The pre-Andean valleys of Uspallata determine cultural differences having and Potrerillos, located between the an influence on the maize consumption mountain range and the foothills, at of particular individuals. Therefore, it is 1500-2000 m a.s.l., are areas of accumula- assumed that all samples have the same tion of trawling material, with deep soils level of confidence and are normal (in- suitable for cultivation (Espizúa, 1993a). stead of potential outliers). This zone has an arid-semi-arid Mediter-

Multequina 28: 5-20, 2019 7 Table 1. Chronological and isotopic data of the samples considered for the sub-regions of Mendoza (from Gil et al., 2014) Tabla 1. Datos cronológicos e isotópicos de las muestras consideradas para las subregiones de Mendoza (tomados de Gil et al., 2014)

Zone Site Lab. Years 14C BP Media 2δ δ13Cap

El Rincón AA-101148 840 ± 44 1198 –13.1 Northeast Laguna del Rosario AA-90281 1338 ± 44 682 –14.1 Lagoons Laguna del Rosario AA-101147 1063 ± 47 974 –14.1 Alto La Echuna AA-101149 1036 ± 43 998 –14.3

Uspallata AA-66558 1922 ± 52 82 –9.9 Finca Alí AA-101143 1862 ± 35 153 –7–4 Barrio Ramos AA-98708 583 ± 43 1351 –9.4 Barrio Panella AA-101144 1902 ± 40 104 –7.1

Northwest Potrero Las Colonias AA-666564 568 ± 38 1353 –4.2 pre-Andean Túmulo II Uspallata AA-66561 1269 ± 35 730 –7.5 Valleys Túmulo II Uspallata AA-66565 1178 ± 41 844 –6.5 Túmulo I Uspallata AA-66568 977 ± 35 1084 –11 Túmulo III Uspallata AA-66566 671 ± 40 1317 –3.4 Agua de la Cueva UGA-8660 2480 ± 50 –620 –5.9 Potrerillos AA-90282 2181 ± 47 –260 –12

Odisa AA-90284 529 ± 42 1406 –7.5 Huentota Valley Zanjón de los Ciruelos AA-90280 2068 ± 46 –89 –13.7 Zanjón de los Ciruelos AA-90279 1536 ± 45 512 –9.1

Campo Gorgoñi AA-98704 2025 ± 36 –27 –11.6 Barrancas Yac. 2 AA-66560 2084 ± 40 –107 –13.6 Badlands Barrancas Yac. 1 AA-98705 1597 ± 38 473 –5.7 Finca Furlotti AA-98706 378 ± 50 1523 –8.8 Alto Verde AA-66563 1736 ± 49 301 –10

Cápiz Alto AA-101145 246 ± 44 1658 –12.5 Cápiz Alto AA-101146 423 ± 41 1467 –10.3 Jaurúa Valley San Carlos AA-66562 177 ± 34 1773 –10.2 San Carlos AA-66567 142 ± 41 1807 –12.3 Viluco AA-6559 208 ± 38 1769 –12.9

8 A. García & E. Martínez Carretero Figure 1. Location of the sub-regions and main sites of Mendoza and San Juan Figura 1. Ubicación de las subregiones y principales sitios de Mendoza y San Juan ranean climate with cold winters, with dunes. The climate is arid tropical with ca. 50 days of frost and 106 mm of an- cold winters, with more than 40 days of nual rainfall, and average temperatures frost and 83 mm of annual precipitation. of 18.3 °C and 4.2 °C for the warmest and The average temperatures of the warm- coldest months, respectively (Servicio est and coldest months are 25.4 °C and Meteorológico Nacional, 1958). 7.2 °C. The northeastern lagoon sector (500- The Huentota Valley or Depression of 600 m a.s.l.) is furrowed by multiple Mendoza-Tulumaya (750-800 m a.s.l.), paleochannels of the Mendoza River. It is a low area located to the east of the is an area with deep soils of fine texture southern precordilleran extreme, filled (clays and silts) in a landscape charac- by the alluvial cones of the Mendoza Riv- terized before the recent anthropic im- er (Polanski, 1954). It has deep sandy to pact (last 500 years) by the presence of loamy soils. The climate is arid, attenuat- lagoons, carob forests, and sectors with ed tropical with cool winters, with ca. 50

Multequina 28: 5-20, 2019 9 days of frost per year (especially between differences are greater when considering May and August). The rainfall reaches the zonal trends inside Mendoza, mainly 150 mm and the average temperatures regarding the Northwest, Northeast and of the warmest and coldest months are Barrancas zones for δ13Cap (Figure 4), 23.1 °C and 6.7 °C. and the Northwest and Barrancas zones The Jaurúa Valley occupies the De- for δ15N (Figure 5). pression of the . It spreads Samples from the Northeast (682-1198 throughout the Yaucha Creek and the AD) and Jaurúa Valley (1467-1807 AD) upper segment of the Tunuyán River. It show a significant temporal restriction, is a space with deep, fertile loamy soils, whereas Northwest and Barrancas pres- located between 880 and 1100 m a.s.l. It ent extensive periods lacking samples has a semi-arid, warm tropical climate (Figure 4). with very cold winters and more than a hundred days with frosts between April Discussion and October. The annual precipitation is 313 mm and the average temperatures Pre-Hispanic indigenous for the warmest and the coldest months consumption are 20.8 °C and 4.1 °C. According to the regional trends pro- The badlands of Barrancas, located posed by Gil et al. (2014), from ca. 600 south of the Mendoza River between 700 BC up to 800 AD there is a change from and 780 m a.s.l., are made up of easily diets dominated by C3 resources to oth- erodible, alluvial, and colluvial soils (Re- ers in which maize (C4) contributes ap- gairaz, 1979). The climate of the area is proximately 50% of consumption. These arid, attenuated tropical with cool win- authors state that between 800 and 1450 ters and ca. 50 days with frosts a year. AD the values oscillate around –8‰, The annual rainfall is 150 mm, and the which would reflect a mixed diet with average temperature of the warmest and a substantial contribution of C4 re- coldest months is 24.9 °C and 6.6 °C, re- sources. As seen in Figure 2, although spectively. the tendency is the same, the average

consumption of C4 plants in Mendoza Results seems to be just slightly negatively af- fected by the samples of San Juan and Provincial trends of δ13Cap and δ15N vice versa. The variations are greater at show the absence of the post-1408 AD a local scale. Thus, the regional trend is segment in San Juan. The average curve not representative of the situation recog- of δ13Cap tends to lower Mendoza’s maize nized in different sub-regions integrated consumption and to raise that of San into the regional reconstruction, except Juan for the period 300-750 AD. Nev- for Huentota Valley (Figure 4). This dis- ertheless, the provincial curves do not crepancy appears for the period 600 BC- display significant differences respect- 1300 AD in the Northwest, where val- ing the average (Figure 2). For the pe- ues fluctuate between –6‰ and –7‰ riod 600 BC-800 AD, δ15N curves pres- (very high consumption), with a sharp ent more important differences between fall towards 1050 AD. During this pe- San Juan and Mendoza (Figure 3). Those riod, instead, the average curve points

10 A. García & E. Martínez Carretero Figure 2. Loess curves showing δ13Cap chronological trends for San Juan and Mendoza samples Figura 2. Curvas Loess que muestran las tendencias cronológicas δ13Cap para las muestras de Mendoza y San Juan

Figure 3. Loess curves showing δ15N chronological trends for San Juan and Mendoza samples Figura 3. Curvas Loess que muestran las tendencias cronológicas δ15N para las muestras de Mendoza y San Juan

Multequina 28: 5-20, 2019 11 Figure 4. Loess curves showing δ13Cap chronological trends for Mendoza sub-regions Figura 4. Curvas Loess que muestran las tendencias cronológicas δ13Cap para las subregiones de Mendoza

Figure 5. Loess curves showing δ15N chronological trends for Mendoza sub-regions Figura 5. Curvas Loess que muestran las tendencias cronológicas δ15N para las subregiones de Mendoza

12 A. García & E. Martínez Carretero a raise from very low to high consump- towards 300 AD and then a constant in- tion. It is important to point out that in crease that reaches 12‰ at the end of the the sites Jagüel II, Jagüel III, Agua de la XVIII century. However, curves separa- Tinaja and Cueva El Jagüelito (all in this tion corresponding to Mendoza and San sub-region) have appeared the only ar- Juan indicates important differences be- chaeological evidence of cacti (Bárcena tween both provinces (Figure 3), mainly & Roig, 1982; Bárcena et al., 1985; Roig the absence of that decrease in the for- & Bárcena, 1983; Sacchero et al., 1989), mer and its marked presence in the latter. CAM plants whose δ13C values partially Likewise, disaggregation by sub-regions overlap with those of C4 plants. How- shows some different situations (Fig- ever, regional values for cacti generally ure 5). Thus, the curve corresponding fall between –14‰ and –11‰ (Llano to Barrancas shows an abrupt drop be- & Ughan, 2014), so their effect on the tween 288 BC and 473 AD that coincides sub-regional curve (if any) must have with a marked increment in the values of been minimal, and in no way the cacti δ13Cap. These values could refer to a fall may be responsible for the δ13Cap values in meat consumption and an increase in obtained. Other local C4 plants may have maize eating, respectively. In the north- been part of the diet, but regrettably they west area, there is a significant decrease do not appear in the archaeological re- in the values of δ15N between 620 BC and cord, and it is quite difficult to estimate 730 AD, which could indicate a lower the importance of their use. proportion of meat in the diet. Moreover, Samples from Barrancas, with a curve Huentota Valley sub-region shows an in- range from –6‰ to –8‰ for the period crease close to that shown by the regional ca. 300-1500 AD, also gave values that curve, although without the abrupt rise correspond to greater consumption of registered after 1450 AD, only observed corn. The largest gap arises in the North- in the Jaurúa Valley sub-region between east, where the consumption is very low 1560 and 1807 AD. to low (–14 to –13‰), in sharp contrast Definitely, although the integration of to the average curve. The documentary partial situations for the reconstruction sources indicate that in this sub-region of a regional sequence can be a valuable the natives dried and ground the roots general reference, in this case the result of cattail (totora) to make bread (Techo, does not seem to be representative of the 1897; Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, 1927; situations observed in most of the areas Lozano, 1755), and also ate roots of other considered, evidencing the importance plants (Ovalle, 1646). Some C4 plants of analyzing the local context in each (Llano, 2009) observed in the current case, including the possibility of store the local vegetation (e.g., Sporobolus rigens grain in silos. and Atriplex lampa) were possibly part of those resources. However, the high Maize consumption in the Inca δ13Cap values recorded in this area do and Colonial Periods not allow us to maintain that these plants were an important part of the local diet. Only one of the analyzed samples corre- With respect to measures of δ15N, the sponds to the Inca period. It is the one general curve shows a slight fall in values obtained in Finca Furlotti, dated 1523

Multequina 28: 5-20, 2019 13 AD. The δ13Cap value of this individual coinciding with local Inca domination was –8.8‰, which would indicate an (ca. 1480-1540 AD) and the subsequent important presence of maize in the diet. Spanish conquest (1561 AD). In Mendoza, the chronologically closest individuals were dated in 1406 AD and Effects of climate on maize show values of –7.5‰ and –8.1‰, which production also indicate a relatively high maize con- sumption. In San Juan, pre-hispanic One of the most significant suggestions samples chronologically closest are nine concerning the analyzed subject is that from Zonda Paredón (1406 AD), which the environmental conditions of the present an average of –8.2‰, and one LIA (1370-1750 AD) would have turned from Barrio Reina Mora (1408 AD), maize into a risky crop (Gil et al., 2014) with a value of –10.3‰ (Gil et al., 2014). and would have led to a decrease in its Therefore, the available information production and consumption. However, does not indicate a lower consumption although the fall in temperatures starts of maize during the Inca period. since 1370 AD, the marked decrease in The period related to the Spanish con- maize consumption is recorded only in quest started around 1551, the date of individuals from the late eighteenth and the first documented contact between early nineteenth century. Even since Spaniards and local natives (Draghi 1560, some individuals provide δ13Cap Lucero, 1954). After this date, two con- values of –6.2‰ and –7.6‰, indicating centrations of samples appear, one dated an important role of C4 resources in the around 1560-1580 AD and another be- diet. The question then arises to whether tween 1777 and 1808 AD. The first one, the reduction in temperatures necessar- corresponding to Cápiz Alto (in cen- ily led to diminishing maize production tral Mendoza), presents a high internal in the region. variability within a group of individuals The subject cannot be solved from the dated to 1560 AD, with δ13Cap values Archaeology perspective due to the lack ranging from –6.2‰ to –11.4‰, which of data. The documentary information would reflect important (high) to low is very scarce, but in the middle of the contributions of maize in the diet, re- XVII century a Jesuit chronicler pointed spectively. This situation does not show out that in Cuyo “the whole country is a drastic decline in maize consumption, famous for nothing to much fruitful- which only seems to be observed in the ness” and “produces such abundance of second nucleus of samples, correspond- corn, wine, and other fruits, that it sup- ing to five specimens from San Carlos plies the neighboring countries” (Techo, dated to the end of the eighteenth and 1704). At the end of the eighteenth cen- beginning of the nineteenth centuries. tury another Jesuit affirmed the continu- The drop is neither recorded in San Juan, ity of this situation for the nearby Chile where the curve ends up in about 1400 (from where comes the paleoclimatic AD (10 individuals with values between information of Laguna Aculeo): “maize –7.9‰ and –10.3‰; Gil et al., 2014). grows extremely well in Chile, and the This situation does not evidence a de- inhabitants cultivate eight or nine variet- cline in the consumption of C4 resources ies of it, several of which are very pro-

14 A. García & E. Martínez Carretero ductive” (Molina, 1809). Given that these could descend in some ravines down to latter observations would coincide with 2400 m a.s.l. (Mercer, 1976; Wayne and an improvement in the environmental Corte, 1983; Stingl & Garleff, 1985; Es- conditions after the LIA, and with the pizúa, 1993), remaining mostly in the lower native utilization, these cases may higher mountain ranges. A similar situa- not reflect the scale of maize production tion has been observed in central-south- or the level of consumption by non-in- ern Mendoza (ca. 35° S), in the upper digenous populations. part of the Rio Grande basin (Espizúa & From the ecological point of view, Pitte, 2009). there is no evidence of a decrease in the Therefore, the effects of the LIA in lati- possibilities of maize cultivation during tudes of central-west Argentina are ex- LIA. Maize, like other crops, is sensitive pected to have similarly centered on the to both thermal variation and drought. higher mountain range with little or no In this species, the major effect of water manifestation in the lower valleys (700- stress is the delay in the formation of 2000 m a.s.l.), where cultivation of corn female flowers, increasing the anthesis- was feasible. stigma formation interval (ASI) that Finally, there is no data to suggest that seriously affects production. Further- periods of significant late frost during more, the cardinal temperatures are: le- the LIA affected maize production. In thal, –1.8/46 °C; in anthesis, 7.7/37.3 °C; these situations, assimilates accumulated whole plant, 6.2/42 °C (Sánchez et al., at high levels in maize stems remobilize 2014). Maize dies at temperatures below towards grain production, involving the freezing point. These values are far from action of abscisic acid (stress hormone) those reconstructed at Laguna Aculeo from the root to the aerial part of the (von Guten et al., 2009), which only plant, and of other growth regulators show a decrease of 1.02 °C (Gil et al., (Jurgens et al., 1978; Ribaut et al., 2009). 2014) in average summer temperatures The above information suggests that, between the periods 1150-1369 and in agreement with the scarce documen- 1370-1750 AD. tary data, in general, maize cultivation The impact of the LIA may have been would not have decrease during LIA due of little intensity in the extra-mountain to environmental causes. environments of the area. According to Zárate (2002), LIA in this region, would Spanish conquest and its effects not have been a continuous range of on the indigenous economy colder or wetter conditions, but a period marked by variability. Studies carried out Beyond the occurrence of environmental in central Mendoza indicate that the Late changes, there is a cultural cause for ex- Glacial Maximum did not significantly plaining diet shifts in indigenous groups modify the vegetation cover of the low during Colonial times: the proven dis- zones (Martínez Carretero et al., 2014), ruption and decomposition of local na- so its effects would have been restricted tive societies. Although considered, this mainly to the higher mountainous sec- cause seems to have been underestimat- tors 2500 m a.s.l. During the LIA, in the ed against the explanatory potential of Mendoza river basin (ca. 33° S), glaciers environmental factors (Gil et al., 2014).

Multequina 28: 5-20, 2019 15 The beginning of the decline in maize ning the Spanish conquest of Chile was consumption coincides exactly (samples based fundamentally on the corn taken of Cápiz Alto dated to 1560 AD) with from the natives. But then, for strategic the start of the Spanish conquest of the reasons, the natives began to plant wheat territory (1551-1561 AD). The and barley instead of corn, since these use of the “” system began cereals required less care, gave them in the region around 1552 AD, a decade earlier harvests and did not require flat before the founding of the first cities. In areas (easy to find by the Spaniards) for a few decades, a large part of the local their cultivation. indigenous population was transferred As a result, both the time lag between to Chilean cities, with the consequent the onset of the LIA and the decline rupture of family ties and mechanisms in maize consumption by indigenous of economic production (Prieto, 2000). people, and the dramatic change in the Moreover, according to Michieli (1994, economic and social conditions of local 1988), the process of transferring natives communities during the colonial period, to Chile was so marked that by 1640 “the suggest that in order to explain shifts in indigenous depopulation of the central native diet, climate change could con- valleys where Huarpe population was stitute a minor factor (if any) compared concentrated” would have occurred. with the development of a generalized Within this framework, also there were crisis of the indigenous world as a result various movements of the local groups of the Spanish conquest. (Parisii, 2003) that gave rise to a totally different configuration of the occupation Conclusions and exploitation of the territory. Prieto (2000) and & Prieto (1981) The general δ13Cap curve generated for estimate that by the middle of the sev- San Juan and Mendoza shows important enteenth century the number of Huarpe differences with the sub-regional situ- natives living in Mendoza would have ations of Mendoza. To a certain extent, been cut by half. these differences respond to the fact that In addition, some sources point to a the curve is not an average of zonal situ- limitation in the production and con- ations but an aggregation of samples of sumption of maize in southern Chile, different periods in each sub-region. As due not to environmental reasons but a result, even when Mendoza’s general because of the Spanish conquest and the curve is considered alone, it is not rep- arduous struggle with the Araucanians. resentative of what is recorded in sub- In fact, in the second half of the six- regions such as the Northwest or the teenth century the Indians “did not want Northeast of Mendoza (Figures 2 and to sow for fear of supplying by chance 4), and the Colonial segment is only some food to their enemies, and with applicable to the sub-region where the such a patriotic purpose, they preferred samples originated (Jaurúa Valley), so in to eat only wild chives, seeds and le- the other areas the situation could be dif- gumes” Correa Vergara (1938). Accord- ferent. Also, the consumption of maize ing to González de Nájera (1889), who during the Inca period cannot be char- wrote in the 17th century, at the begin- acterized due to the scarcity of data, and

16 A. García & E. Martínez Carretero the only available sample indicates a sig- AMBROSE, S. & L. NORR, 1993. Experi- mental evidence for the relationship of nificant presence of 4C resources in the diet and not a marked decrease. the carbon isotope ratios of whole diet The available data do not allow us to and dietary protein to those of bone col- lagen and carbonate. In: Lambert, J. & G. establish the decline of the maize crop Grupe (Eds.). Prehistoric Human Bone: in the region during the colonial period, Archaeology at the Molecular Level. assumed as a reflection of a drop in in- Springer-Verlag, New York. digenous consumption, or its causal re- BÁRCENA, J. R. & F. A. ROIG, 1982. Inves- lationship with adverse environmental tigaciones arqueológicas en el área pune- conditions during the LIA. By contrast, ña de Mendoza, con especial referencia a the documentary data for the mid-sev- Tephrocactus andícola (Cactaceae) como enteenth and late-eighteenth centuries nuevo recurso alimentario. Relaciones reflect high levels of maize production, XIV (2): 85-107. BÁRCENA, J. R., F. ROIG & V. ROIG, 1985. suggesting that the climatic variations Aportes arqueo-fito-zoológicos para la recorded in the area did not have a sig- prehistoria del N.O. de Mendoza: la exca- nificant impact on the cultivation of this vación de Agua de la Tinaja I. Trabajos de cereal. Prehistoria 42: 311-363. Finally, even when future work verifies BONINSEGNA J. & S. DELGADO, 2002. Va- the decline in the consumption of maize riaciones en el caudal del río Atuel desde by the indigenous groups at regional lev- 1575 hasta el presente reconstruidas con els, such variation in diet could be inter- series de anillos de árboles y sus relacio- preted as one of the traumatic effects of nes con la oscilación del sur. In: Trom- botto, D. & R. Villalba (Eds.). IANIGLA, the conquest on local societies, and it 30 años de investigación básica y aplicada should not necessarily imply low maize en ciencias ambientales. Instituto Argen- production or low consumption in the tino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias non-indigenous sectors of the population. Ambientales, Mendoza. BRAY, T., L. MINC, M. CERUTI, J. CHÁVEZ, Acknowledgements R. PEREA & J. REINHARD, 2005. A compositional analysis of pottery vessels This research was supported by the Con- associated with the Inca ritual of capaco- sejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientí- cha. Journal of Anthropological Archae- ficas y Técnicas (CONICET) and the ology 24: 82-100. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. We CADWALLADER, L., D. G. BERES- thank to Francisco Seufferheld and B. FORD-JONES, O. Q. WHALEY & T. S Vento for the language revision and the O’CONNELL, 2012. The Signs of Maize? 13 anonymous reviewers for their valuable A Reconsideration of What δ C Values Say about Palaeodiet in the Andean Re- suggestions. gion. Human Ecology 40: 487-509. CANALS FRAU, S., 1946. Etnología de los References huarpes. Una síntesis. Anales del Insti- ABRAHAM, E. & M. R PRIETO, 1981. En- tuto de Etnología Americana VII: 9-147. foque diacrónico de los cambios ecológi- CORREA VERGARA, L., 1938. Agricultura cos y de las adaptaciones humanas en el chilena. Imprenta Nascimento, Santiago NE del árido mendocino. Cuadernos del de Chile. CEIFAR 3: 109-139.

Multequina 28: 5-20, 2019 17 CORTEGOSO, V., 2006. Comunidades agrí- Revista del Museo de Antropología 4: colas en el Valle de Potrerillos (NO de 145-160. Mendoza) durante el Holoceno tardío: GIL, A., 1997–1998. Cultígenos prehispá- organización de la tecnología y vivienda. nicos en el sur de Mendoza. Discusión Intersecciones en Antropología 7: 77-94. en torno al límite meridional de la agri- CHIAVAZZA, H., 2015. Pescadores y horti- cultura andina. Relaciones de la Socie- cultores ceramistas del valle de Mendoza. dad Argentina de Antropología: 22–23, In: Bárcena J. (Ed.), Arqueología y etno- 295–318. historia del centro oeste argentino: Apor- GIL, A., G. NEME, R. TIKOT, P. NOVEL- tes desde las V Jornadas Arqueológicas LINO, V. CORTEGOSO & V. DURÁN, Cuyanas. Incihusa-Conicet, Mendoza: 2009. Stable Isotopes and Maize Con- 45-61. sumption in Central Western Argentina. DRAGHI LUCERO, J., 1945. Introducción. International Journal of Osteoarchaeol- In: Actas Capitulares de Mendoza, tomo ogy 19: 215–236. I. Guillermo Kraft, Buenos Aires. GIL, A., G. NEME & R. TYKOT, 2010. Isóto- DURÁN, V., C. García, 1989. Ocupaciones pos estables y consumo de maíz en el agroalfareras en el sitio Agua de la Cueva centro occidente argentino: Tendencias Sector Norte (N.O. de Mendoza). Revista temporales y espaciales. Chungara 42 (2): de Estudios Regionales 3: 29-64. 497-513. ESPIZÚA, L., 1993. Quaternary Glaciations GIL, A., R. VILLALBA, A. UGAN, V. COR- in the Rio Mendoza Valley, Argentine TEGOSO, G. NEME, C. MICHIELI, P. . Quaternary Research 40: 150-162 NOVELLINO & V. DURÁN, 2014. Isoto- ESPIZÚA, L.E. & P. PITTE, 2009. The Little pic evidence on human bone for declin- Ice Age glacier advance in the Central ing maize consumption during the Little Andes (35ºS), Argentina. Palaeogeogra- Ice Age in central western Argentina. phy, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology Journal of Archaeological Science 49: 281: 345-350. 213-227. FACULTAD DE FILOSOFÍA Y LETRAS GÓMEZ-CARBALLA, A., L. CATELLI, J. (UBA), 1927. Documentos para la Histo- PARDO-SECO, F. MARTINÓN-TOR- ria Argentina. Iglesia. T. XIX. Cartas An- RES, L. ROEWER, C. VULLO & A. SA- nuas de la Provincia del , Chile y LAS, 2015. The complete mitogenome of Tucumán de la Compañía de Jesús (1609- a 500-year-old Inca child mummy. Scien- 1616). Peuser, Buenos Aires. tific Reports 5: 16462. http://www.nature. GARCÍA, A, 1988. Arqueología de la Cueva com/articles/srep16462. del Toro (Mendoza-Argentina). Revista GONZÁLEZ DE NÁJERA, A., 1889. [1614]. de Estudios Regionales 1: 17-71. Desengaño y reparo de la guerra del rei- GARCÍA, A., 1992. Hacia un ordenamiento no de Chile. Imprenta Ercilla, Santiago de preliminar de las ocupaciones prehistóri- Chile. cas agrícolas precerámicas y agroalfareras JURGENS, S.K., R.R. JOHNSON & J.S. en el NO de Mendoza. Revista de Estu- BOYER. 1978. Dry Matter Production dios Regionales 10: 7-34. and Translocation in Maize Subjected GASCO, A., E. MARSH, C. FRIGOLÉ, S. to Drought during Grain Fill. Agrono- CASTRO, C. PRIVITERA, R. MOYANO my Journal 70: 678-682. http://dx.doi. & L. YEBRA, 2011. Actividades domés- org/10.2134/agronj1978.0002196200700 ticas durante los siglos III-VIII d.C. en 0040036x. el valle de Potrerillos (San Ignacio-Men- LOZANO, P., 1755. Historia de la Compa- doza). Un acercamiento desde la osteo- ñía de Jesús de la Provincia de Paraguay. metría y la tecnología cerámica y lítica. Tomo II. Imprenta de la Viuda de Manuel

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Multequina 28: 5-20, 2019 19 WAYNE, W.J. & A.E. CORTE, 1983. Multiple ZÁRATE, M., 2002. Los ambientes del Tardi- glaciations of the Cordón del Plata, Men- glacial y Holoceno en Mendoza. In: Gil, doza, Argentina. Paleogeography, Paleo- A. & Neme, G. (eds.), Entre Montañas y climatology, Palaeoecology 42: 185-209. desiertos: arqueología del sur de Mendo- za. Sociedad Argentina de Antropología, Buenos Aires.

Recibido: 02/2019 Aceptado: 07/2019

20 A. García & E. Martínez Carretero