Abstract

ANDRZEJ, Karwowski. Possible Footprints of the Guaraní Expansion in the River Beni Basin (Bolivian Amazon). Textos Antropológicos [online]. 2018, vol.19, n.1, pp. 83-104. ISSN 1025-3181.

This paper discusses the question about the possible Guaraní expansion in the Bolivian Amazon during the Pre-Columbian period.Although this topic is well documented in the Eastern zone ofthe country, until now it has not been studied in an detailed manner in the Amazon region, as in the case ofthe Beni River region, especially in its lower basin. Although the data is not always unequivocal, some archaeological remains show distinctive features of the proto-Guaraní sub-tradition, among them, examples of corrugated sherds and funerary urns, as well as the presence ofterra-preta. On the other hand, historical sources mention the 'Guarayos' (identified frequently with the ese-ejjas, homonymous name of the Guaraní from the East of the country) as the Inca’s vassals, and their State tax collectors. It is likely they would have produced the ceramic style found in Uaua-uno, in a typical proto-Guaraní cultural context, suggesting that ancient 'Guarayos' could have derivedfrom some proto-Guaraní groups, which were under a process oftacanization, and that their ceramic style would have survived in the ware of the modern Cavineño people.

Keywords : Amazonia; Beni River; Guaraní expansion; corrugated ceramics; archaeology.