Page 15 - AHATA Updated

A13
Tuesday 12 February 2019

Episode V:

Theywhoset foundation for our nation
Coming from the Southto the beloved rock,

Approximately 3000 to 2500 years ago agro-potters from the Amazon-
Orinoco river basins started their journey spreading in a constant North-
western direction. They did this mainly over land. Great obstacles had
to be overcome during their journey. The enigma is what triggered this
new wave of migration on land, while other groups chose the rivers to
reach to the Atlantic Ocean. In time they perfected their vessels into
sea worthy canoes, capable to traveling alongside the coastline and
the open sea, reaching the isles of Caribbean Sea. These Amerindians
were from a totally different ethnic group if compared to the Paleo na-
tives we mentioned before. These tropical rain forest farmers were dif-
ferent in many other physical and culture aspects. Arawakan speak-
ing people who in a thousand years or more colonized the northern
and coastal areas of South America, including almost all the islands of
the Caribbean Sea.

Pic. 2. The bringing of the holy
cross to Sta. Cruz.

was developed in Mexico that cio-cultural units consisting mainly
changed the world. This Indian of kin-based populations which
corn or Zea Maize soon became were structured along the lines of
the transformer of cultures, where age and sex, without much in the
simple and the ordinary use of way of economic, political, or reli-
clay is transformed into the devel- gious grounds for social status dif-
opment of sophisticated ceramic ferentiation. Social controls were
artifacts of high artistic mastery of largely based on kinship rights
the ceramic techniques. Ceremo- and obligations of a moral nature,
nial ornaments where created in except in cases of certain military
gratitude to the spirits of life and activities that were often under
fertility. The Paleo hunters were the temporary leadership of spe-
Pic. 1 Tropical forest farming Amerindian groups those who knew the land, knew cial chiefs. Their richer technology
the use of the flora, fauna and and production of agricultural sur-
what was available as raw mate- pluses enabled villages to remain
However it is most probably that the ancient and well -cured Paleo cous- rials, essential and elemental for a in the same place for many years.
ins, who populated the land before, behind the Cordillera de Merida their rapid adaptation. They were supported by a more
and the Segovia Highlands in Venezuela, which together with the Cordil- adequate and dependable food
lera de Perija in Colombia, formed an enclosed highland area. This land These people were the descen- supply, which included maize
stretched around a big lake, following along the coast line and reaching dant of South American tropical- (corn), beans, squash, manioc,
the ocean and the isthmus of Paraguaná, played their part in their cultural forest farmers. They became the and tropical vegetables and
development of the new comers, since they knew exactly how to survive heirs of the land and later the leg- fruits, as well as the riches of the
in this part of land. This Cordillera or mountainous ridge represented at endary Caquietio tribe. The peo- mangroves forests and the Carib-
one time a natural barrier, separating the area of LakeMaracaibo and ple who received the Spaniards bean Sea.
where the earth stretched east, reaching the Caribbean Sea. This land of on arrival when the R.C. cross was Caquetío, also spelled Caique-
forest and palms, abundant in game was soon to be transformed in to an brought from the main land. At tio, or Caiquetia, Indians of north-
area where slash-and-burn or tropical forest agricultural techniques were that time, an organized society western South America were living
introduced and practiced. This method of clearing the land for agricul- had established itself responding along the shores of Lake Maracai-
tural purposes is associated with the cultivation of mainly tubers such as to the main chief who lived on bo at the time of the Spanish con-
yucca, yams, sweet potatoes and probably some Musa varieties, like Ba- the mainland. History mentioned quest. They conquered the islands
nanas and plantains were common. There was many plants that could be his frequent visits on this part of his Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba. q
grinded in to flour for the elaboration of their main staples such as arepas, territory of influence.
cachapas and alla cas, etc. If you like our stories we recommend you
A more organized form of agriculture developed with the acquiring of the The Caquetios to follow us by booking your Etnia Nativa
experience and take it homewith you.
seeds of life or better known as the American corn, a totally new crop that Like hunters and gatherers, had so-