El camino de arriero Sigsig-Gualaquiza, en el siglo XX

Abstract

The muleteer during the twentieth century was an activity that transcended at the time, since with it an important commercial dynamic arose between the regions of Ecuador; in addition, it generated a series of cultural and social relations. This activity meant both social and economic development for several families, because extra income was generated and it became the only sustenance for them; even though it was a dangerous activity: due to some factors like the uneven ground, the land relief, the hostility of the vegetation, among others. It must be understood that the exchange of products comes from previous periods. This is evidenced in the Mayo Chinchipe culture located in the province of Zamora Chinchipe, in which some items related to the Valdivia culture located on the Ecuadorian coast were found, demonstrating the contact between them as well as with other cultures that are mentioned in this research work. On the other hand, it is important to mention the physical aspects of the area because opening roads to carry out the different mule routes are logically and directly linked to the geomorphology, climate, use and exploitation of resources such as flora and fauna in such area. Due to the absence of records, that tells us about this activity, and the constant loss of memory of the inhabitants since they are an aging population or many of them have already died, it is necessary to rescue the muleteer through memory, which will give value to the region as a sociocultural manifestations space. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to analyze the historical elements of the muleteer trail, based on orality and observation, and at the same time, to recover the stories created at different points along the way. The research has an ethnographic and geographical perspective; the first through orality, interviews with the inhabitants, and the second from geography based on spatial analysis