Complex Adaptation and Change: Social and Historical Dimensions of Linca Sheep Breeding in Northern Patagonia

Abstract

The Linca sheep represents one of the most important—but least known— biocultural legacies of the Mapuche people in Patagonia, Argentina. Even though these sheep came with conquistadors over three centuries ago, the Merino sheep breed has largely taken their place. In this chapter, we examine the crucial elements that contribute to the preservation of the Linca sheep breeding tradition, which is an essential component of local zoological knowledge (LZK). We begin with a historical analysis that explains the importance of the Linca sheep in the Mapuche textile world, which is embedded in a world in which textiles have always held a crucial place. We also analyze how successive socio-environmental changes have left their mark on the tradition of breeding these animals.Through a qualitative-quantitative analysis of archetypes, based on information from interviews, we identified three profiles: “veteran,” “tenacious,” and “emotionally attached.” It is crucial to acknowledge the lead role portrayed by women within this categorization, as they have become the main keepers of the Linca sheep’s diversity and the knowledge of its textile language, making themselves and their family units responsible of the biocultural heritage of this local breed.