Amaicha del Valle, Ruins of Quilmes
The site was the largest pre-Columbian settlement in Argentina, occupying about 30 hectares. The area dates back to ca 850 AD and was inhabited by the Quilmes people. It is believed that about 5,000 people lived here during its heights.
The site is flanked by two foothills which were fortified.
The Quilmes people fiercely resisted the Inca invasions of the 15th century, and continued to resist the Spaniards for 130 years, until being defeated in 1667.
Spanish invaders relocated the last 2,000 survivors to a reservation (reducción) 20 km south of Buenos Aires. This 1,500 km journey was made by foot, causing hundreds of Quilmes to die in the process. Merely 200 families (about 1,000 people) arrived eventually. By 1726, there were only 141 people. The population was decimated by the high rate of infant mortality and epidemics. According to the last parish priest of the reserve, the last natives died in the late 18th century.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruins_of_Quilmes; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quilmes_people
Amaicha del Valle, Ruins of Quilmes
The site was the largest pre-Columbian settlement in Argentina, occupying about 30 hectares. The area dates back to ca 850 AD and was inhabited by the Quilmes people. It is believed that about 5,000 people lived here during its heights.
The site is flanked by two foothills which were fortified.
The Quilmes people fiercely resisted the Inca invasions of the 15th century, and continued to resist the Spaniards for 130 years, until being defeated in 1667.
Spanish invaders relocated the last 2,000 survivors to a reservation (reducción) 20 km south of Buenos Aires. This 1,500 km journey was made by foot, causing hundreds of Quilmes to die in the process. Merely 200 families (about 1,000 people) arrived eventually. By 1726, there were only 141 people. The population was decimated by the high rate of infant mortality and epidemics. According to the last parish priest of the reserve, the last natives died in the late 18th century.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruins_of_Quilmes; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quilmes_people