Between native and exotic: Temporal depth of botanical and linguistic records in the national folklore survey of Santa María, Catamarca, Argentina

Abstract

This work analyzes the plants recorded in the 1921 National Folklore Survey (ENF, for its acronym in Spanish) in schools within the department of Santa María, Catamarca (Argentina), in order to investigate the temporal depth of associated knowledge and the presence of native and introduced species. The Santa María Valley underwent cultural and linguistic transformations with the incorporation of Quechua during the Inca expansion and, later, Spanish following European colonization. Within this framework, the ENF sought to compile popular expressions considered representative of the national identity, although biased by criteria that privileged Hispanic tradition and marginalized indigenous heritage. With the participation of thirteen schools, 332 plant mentions corresponding to 143 taxa were identified (62.7% native and 37.3% introduced). Among the native species, maize and algarrobo (carob tree) stand out; these are well-documented in archaeological, historical, and contemporary records, evidencing their central role in diet, rituals, and social organization from pre-Hispanic times to the present. Among the introduced species, grapevines, wheat, and European fruit trees were incorporated early during the colonial period, becoming part of the daily landscape and local economic activities. The analysis of the names of native plants shows that approximately half are in Spanish and the other half in indigenous languages, which evidences processes of linguistic continuity, resignification, and substitution. In conclusion, the ENF constitutes a highly relevant documentary source for tracing continuities and transformations in local botanical knowledge. This work stands out for bringing together archaeobotanical, ethnohistorical, and current ethnobotanical records, thereby contributing to the reconstruction of transmission processes and the shaping of the landscape.