The "cabi" indigenous social-political structure of the Aconcagua valley during the 16th century

Abstract

Going back to an old discussion on whether there was a Central Chile sociopolitical Indian cabi or cavi type of organization similar to the ones existing at the south of Cautin and Biobío river upon the arrival of Europeans. Three cases of Aconcagua valley where place names appear in mapudungun, in titles of land grants awarded to spaniards during the sixteenth century and the beginning of the following, are reviewed. The first is the Pachin Cavi ravine, near the port of Quintero (1558-1959); the second, a Longo Cabi territory,in Curimón (1605 ) and the third,Melincaguin in Putaendo Valley (1636 ) which, we assume, was linked to a cabi. Next to each, the important Inca infraestructure was located. We hy-pothesize that there may have been three other cabis in the valley, located in areas of high agricultural fertility, high population density and evidence of Inca infrastructure. We conclude that the historical information provided us to reopen the debate on this topic.