Arachán were one of the native nations of Uruguay. Their origin is not very well-known, but some scholars consider them to be different from other local ethnicities. They were said to have come from the

Inca The Inca Empire (also known as the Incan Empire and the Inka Empire), called ''Tawantinsuyu'' by its subjects, (Quechua for the "Realm of the Four Parts", "four parts together" ) was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The admin ...

Highlands (currently Bolivia and

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

) thousands of years ago. Their name is composed of two elements: "eastern", "oriental" ( gn, ara) + " Canna" ( qu, achuy), as they used to cultivate

Cannaceae ''Canna'' or canna lily is the only genus of flowering plants in the family Cannaceae, consisting of 10 species.The Cannaceae of the World, H. Maas-van der Kamer & P.J.M. Maas, BLUMEA 53: 247-318 Cannas are not true lilies, but have been ass ...

as staple food.

Legacy

Nowadays the people of

Cerro Largo Department Cerro Largo Department () is a department of Uruguay. Its capital is Melo. It is located in the east of the country, bordering Brazil to its northeast with Yaguaron River as the natural border, Treinta y Tres Department to its south, Durazno ...

are sometimes known as "arachanes", in memory of this extinct local ethnicity. There is also a small seaside resort in

Rocha Department Rocha () is a department in the east of Uruguay. Its capital is the city of Rocha. It borders Maldonado Department to its west, Lavalleja Department to its northwest, Treinta y Tres Department to its north, while to its northeast Laguna Merín f ...

known as Arachania. The rivuline '' Austrolebias arachan'' was named after them as well.

References

External links

* Indigenous peoples in Uruguay History of Uruguay Indigenous peoples of the Southern Cone {{Uruguay-hist-stub