Pachamama Cultural Center Museum

Located on route No. 307 just outside Amaicha del Valle
Tel. 0892-21004
Open Mondays through Sundays from 9a.m. to 6p.m.

This museum was inaugurated in August 1998 and is devoted to geology, anthropology and visual arts. There are maquettes illustrating the population of the Calchaquí Valleys. It has a complete collection of the minerals found in the area, the most outstanding of which is rhodochrosite, known as "the rose red stone of the Incas". Another hall describes how the settlement of the area began 10,000 years ago when groups of Paleolithic hunter-gatherers came in from the north. Their main source of meat were the herds of guanacos and vicuñas, as well as partridges and iguanas. Enclosed in glass cases are skulls of sabertoothed tigers which were the strongest carnivorous predators of the Pleistocene Epoch in the Argentine North. In another hall exhibits include a reproduction of The Suppliants, mortars for crushing maize, weapons used for hunting and war and musical instruments.

Amaicha del Valle
This town is situated 2,000m. above sea level on provincial route No. 307, 145km. away from San Miguel de Tucumán and 67km. away from Cafayate. A sign at the entrance of the town proclaims it has "the best climate in the world", since the sun shines 365 days a year.