DOI article:
Gade, Daniel Wayne; Rodríguez Rios, Roberto: Chaquitaclla: the native footplough and its persistence in Central Andean agriculture
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.48999#0007
CHAQUITACLLA
5
tion, near Lake Titicaca by an as yet un-
known ancient people (Smith, Denevan, Ha-
milton 1966, 355). The taclla, the only native
implement suitable to dig up the tough sod of
this region, probably was instrumental in this
notable modification of nature.
Introduction of the traction plough
Soon after the Spanish Conquest, the
“scratch” plough, arado dental, was introduced
to the Andes, along with the oxen to pull it.
Fig. 2. Harvesting potatoes with the raucana near
Colquepata, Peru. This native mattock of the Andes
was the chief competitor of the chaquitaclla before
the introduction of the traction plough. Photo D.
W. Gade 1968.
Kartoffelernte mit der raucana in der Nahe von Col-
quepata, Peru. Diese in den Anden einheimische
Hacke war der scharfste Konkurrent des chaquitaclla
vor der Einfiihrung des Gespannpflugs.
Made of wood and light in weight, it was the
only traction plough known in Spain in the
sixteenth century that was brought to Peru
(Foster 1960, 52-54). At first, it was used to
prepare lands farmed by and for the Spaniards,
but there was a lag before the Indians accepted
it. Zarate, a reliable Spanish chronicler of the
time, mentioned that wheat was planted in land
prepared with the taclla and was sown in
holes, rather than broadcast (1947, 469). In the
early seventeenth century, the indigenous peop-
les were using both oxen-pulled ploughs and
the taclla (Cobo 1956, I, 382). The natives’
acceptance of the Old World plough may
have been partly accelerated as a result of an
edict by Viceroy Toledo (1580) decreeing that
each Indian community purchase a plough with
oxen for all its members to use where land
could be so worked (Levillier, VIII, 333). The
metal shovel and pickaxe were also introduced
and gradually accepted by the Indians.
In certain areas of the Highlands, the taclla
ceased to be used because of the introduction
of superior technology. Close association of
the taclla with Indian customs and mores may
have caused mestizos to abandon it. Geograph-
ically, the taclla contracted from the entire
desert coastal region of Peru and the flat
floors of most valleys and basins in the High-
lands. Yet in some parts of the Central Andes
the oxen-pulled plough, suited as it was to the
light soils of the Mediterranean Basin but not
sturdy enough to turn compacted, turf-covered
soil, never displaced the taclla. The taclla re-
mains strongly imbedded in the livelihood of
peasants in Southern Peru and Northern Bo-
livia in precisely those zones where it has al-
ways been most necessary: on agricultural
lands above 3,600 m above sea level or on
steep slopes farmed below this elevation.
Form of the Taclla
The chaquitaclla has probably changed little
since the Inca period. Cobo’s 350-year old
description of it suggests a very similar tool
to that found today.5 Naively charming sketches
by the Indian Guaman Poma de Ayala, from
5
tion, near Lake Titicaca by an as yet un-
known ancient people (Smith, Denevan, Ha-
milton 1966, 355). The taclla, the only native
implement suitable to dig up the tough sod of
this region, probably was instrumental in this
notable modification of nature.
Introduction of the traction plough
Soon after the Spanish Conquest, the
“scratch” plough, arado dental, was introduced
to the Andes, along with the oxen to pull it.
Fig. 2. Harvesting potatoes with the raucana near
Colquepata, Peru. This native mattock of the Andes
was the chief competitor of the chaquitaclla before
the introduction of the traction plough. Photo D.
W. Gade 1968.
Kartoffelernte mit der raucana in der Nahe von Col-
quepata, Peru. Diese in den Anden einheimische
Hacke war der scharfste Konkurrent des chaquitaclla
vor der Einfiihrung des Gespannpflugs.
Made of wood and light in weight, it was the
only traction plough known in Spain in the
sixteenth century that was brought to Peru
(Foster 1960, 52-54). At first, it was used to
prepare lands farmed by and for the Spaniards,
but there was a lag before the Indians accepted
it. Zarate, a reliable Spanish chronicler of the
time, mentioned that wheat was planted in land
prepared with the taclla and was sown in
holes, rather than broadcast (1947, 469). In the
early seventeenth century, the indigenous peop-
les were using both oxen-pulled ploughs and
the taclla (Cobo 1956, I, 382). The natives’
acceptance of the Old World plough may
have been partly accelerated as a result of an
edict by Viceroy Toledo (1580) decreeing that
each Indian community purchase a plough with
oxen for all its members to use where land
could be so worked (Levillier, VIII, 333). The
metal shovel and pickaxe were also introduced
and gradually accepted by the Indians.
In certain areas of the Highlands, the taclla
ceased to be used because of the introduction
of superior technology. Close association of
the taclla with Indian customs and mores may
have caused mestizos to abandon it. Geograph-
ically, the taclla contracted from the entire
desert coastal region of Peru and the flat
floors of most valleys and basins in the High-
lands. Yet in some parts of the Central Andes
the oxen-pulled plough, suited as it was to the
light soils of the Mediterranean Basin but not
sturdy enough to turn compacted, turf-covered
soil, never displaced the taclla. The taclla re-
mains strongly imbedded in the livelihood of
peasants in Southern Peru and Northern Bo-
livia in precisely those zones where it has al-
ways been most necessary: on agricultural
lands above 3,600 m above sea level or on
steep slopes farmed below this elevation.
Form of the Taclla
The chaquitaclla has probably changed little
since the Inca period. Cobo’s 350-year old
description of it suggests a very similar tool
to that found today.5 Naively charming sketches
by the Indian Guaman Poma de Ayala, from