CALCHAQUIAN (Diaguitan), a group of tribes of South American Indians, somewhat doubtfully constituting an inde pendent linguistic stock. The Calchaquis occupied a considerable territory in north-western Argentina, extending from the valley of Lerma near Salta, south and east in the foothills of the Andes and the western edge of the pampas, to the northern border of the province of Cordoba. Some recent authorities would make the stock extend westward to the Pacific coast by uniting the Calchaquis with the Atacamenas (q.v.). As practically all data in regard to the Calchaqui language known as "Kakan" has been lost, and the people themselves have for some time been extinct, the problem of determining their limits and affiliations is very difficult. The Calchaquis were a bold and warlike people, and successfully resisted the attacks of the Incas. Culturally their remains show clear relationship with the prehistoric culture of Bolivia, as well as influences from the historic Inca civilization.
The Calchaquis were sedentary agriculturalists, living in villages of houses built with dry stone walls, sometimes very closely grouped to form communal dwellings somewhat resembling the pueblos of the south-western United States. They had much in the way of copper implements and ornaments, but only a little gold. Textiles were made and pottery of varied types and con siderable excellence. The dead were buried and whole cemeteries of urn burials of very young children have been found, sup posedly victims of infant sacrifice. In some sections large groups of small mounds associated with stone circles and alignments are found, but their purpose is unknown.
See T. A. Joyce, South American Archaeology (London, 1912) ; A. F. Chamberlain, "The Allentiacan, Bororoan and Calchaquian linguistic stocks of South America," American Anthropologist (n.s.), vol. xiv. pp. 499-507. The latter gives a useful bibliography.
(R. B. D.)