Vestiges of a Lost Civilization: The complex and elaborate maze of ruins created by the Quilmes civilization is one of the most important archeological areas in Argentina.

• Author: Casciero, Albert J.
• Position: Essay

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Quilmes is a name well known to many as a brand of beer brewed in the town of the same name located in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires, Argentina. What is not so well known, however, is that Quilmes was the name the people that settled in northwestern Argentina around 800 BC Although there is little evidence of their provenance, it is believed that they descended either from Peruvian groups that migrated south through Bolivia; or from Chile, west of the Andes; or even from the south, from the areas that are now the San Juan and Catamarea provinces of Argentina. We may never be certain of their origins, but we do know of their fate.

The Quilmes developed an advanced community as evidenced by the ruins of their city, the most important archeological remains of the Calchaquí Valley. The panoramic view of the city foundations seen from the hill that serves as a backdrop to the site is an unforgettable sight. The location on the slopes of Cerro Alto , High Hill, was well chosen for its expansive view of the valley below, with clear views north, east, and south stretching for many miles. The Quilmes' pucará (fort) provided refuge for inhabitants during war times, and its high vantage point allowed for early detection of approaching friends even as it facilitated defense against aggressors.

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By the mid 1500s, when the first Spanish conquerors arrived in the region and began the settlement of Barco, a short-lived town in the Tucumán area, the Quilmes numbered about 2,000. Families lived together in small rooms connected by storage areas and patios. The rooms had double walls made of stone, and the space in between the two walls was filled with dirt and pebbles to provide better insulation. The roofs may have been made of wood, reeds, or possibly cardones , the tall Saguaro-like cactus ubiquitous in this mountainous region. Cardoon wood is dry, soft, and light but is very durable in this climate. Some historians believe that the constructions had no roofs because there are no visible columns for support. However, it is possible that horizontal beams may have rested on the walls and supported a roof. The entire village was compact, and houses were connected to each other and to passage ways and plazas. They extended down the side of the hill to the flat terrain below, covering an area of roughly 400 acres enclosed by a protective wall along its lower borders.

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The complexity of the dwellings, their terraces, and the strategic...