Picunche

The Picunche were an indigenous people who inhabited a portion of what is now central Chile, specifically the area between the Aconcagua and Itata rivers. They are considered part of the larger Mapuche cultural group, though distinct due to their northern location and exposure to the influence of the Inca Empire.

The Picunche practiced agriculture, cultivating crops such as maize, beans, and potatoes. They also engaged in hunting and gathering. Their society was organized into small, independent communities, and they lacked a centralized political structure like that of the Incas.

The Inca Empire extended its influence into Picunche territory during the 15th century. While the Incas did not fully conquer the region, they established settlements and introduced new technologies and practices, including irrigation techniques. This Inca influence differentiated the Picunche from other Mapuche groups further south.

The arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century significantly impacted the Picunche. They were subjected to Spanish rule and exploitation, and their population declined due to disease, warfare, and forced labor. Many Picunche were absorbed into the Spanish colonial society, losing their distinct cultural identity.

Over time, the Picunche people largely disappeared as a distinct cultural group through assimilation and integration into the broader Chilean population. Today, their descendants are part of the general population of Chile, and little remains of their original language and traditions. Information about them is often gleaned from historical records and archaeological findings.