Notes on the anthropogeography of Argentina

Abstract

Our geographical knowledge of Argentina has been considerably in- creased during the last few years. The Andes have been explored, as well as the Patagonian tablelands and the Fuegian islands. Important discoveries have also been made in the geology, palaeontology, and anthropology of these regions. The ancient relations of South America, not only with the antarctic lands, but with Africa, India, and Australia, have been shown, as well as the existence during supra-jurassic times, before the upheaval of the Andes, of a great range of mountains to the west of Chile where the Pacific extends to-day. Palaeontology has confirmed these geological relations. The extension of the Gond- wana flora to Argentina, and the identity of some South American vertebrates with those of Australia, are no longer matters for con- jecture. Changes, also, in the relief of the southern part of the American continent, in the contour of the coast, and in climatic con- ditions, have been noted in recent times, and some of these results are of remarkable importance when viewed in connection with the distri- bution of mankind. Without doubt, geographical conditions in prehistoric Argentina afforded unlimited hunting-grounds, arable lands, and homes to vanished races of men. I think, then, that it is not beyond the programme of this section to attempt a general enumeration of the people who once inhabited it.