Estudio y georeferenciación de las toponimias de la parroquia rural de Paccha, del cantón Cuenca, provincia del Azuay

Abstract

This research, by the nameEstudio y georeferenciación de la toponimias de la parroquia rural Paccha del cantón Cuenca, provinciadel Azuay (Study and Georeferencing of toponymies of Paccha Rural Parish of Cuenca Canton, Province of Azuay), aims to preserve the memory, culture and identity of this parish of the Cuenca canton. Toponymies are a reflection of the history and social development of all societies. Rooted in them we can find many cultural, linguistic, anthropological, and geographical elements, among others. Thus, in this specific case, toponymies witness the succession of various cultures: Cañari, Inca, and Spanish, as well as various eras: Pre-Columbian, Colonial, and Republican. This study is a compilation of written sources such as books, chronicles, dictionaries, and more. Oral sources were also used as the collective memory of the people of Paccha. Furthermore, the main objective of this research was to collect information for georeferencing all the toponymies of Paccha. The georeferencing process along with the process of gathering written and oral information resulted in the possibility of providing each toponymy a location with geographic coordinates, linguistic origin, etymology, and a brief description of its history. This has been shown both in writing form and corresponding maps. Although this research process focuses in a greater understanding of the history, culture and identity of the Paccha parish, it also aims to be a tool that contributes to the rescue of the intangible heritage of this territorial unit.