Gauchos

Many people know most about Argentina is the tango, but many are surprised that Argentina has its own cowboys called “Gauchos”.  I chose the gaucho for my artifact because of how important they were in Argentina’s beef industry, cultural identity, and Argentinian history. The gauchos are nomadic horseman and cowhand, mostly of mestizo background, of the Argentine Pampas (grasslands) who flourished from the mid-18^th to mid-19^th century and are like folk-heroes of the country (“gaucho”, 2011). Many were well respected to some extent even feared in the country.  The government at one time used gauchos instead of the army or the police force to keep order in the more rural provinces of Argentina (“Gaucho in Argentina”, 2010). The gaucho culture consisted much on “gambling, drinking, playing the guitar, and singing doggerel verses about hunting, fighting, and lovemaking (“gaucho”, 2011).”  Many are also noticed by the kind of costume they wear such as chiripa girding the waist, a woolen poncho, bombachas, which are long accordion-pleated trousers, and high leather boots (“gaucho”, 2011). Sadly gaucho culture is declining due to modernization of Argentina. Argentina’s beef industry, 7^th leading beef exporter formerly no. 1, is now having cattle being kept in feed lots instead of running around in the pampas (Beal, 2011).  Gauchos are becoming tourist attractions, but are still important to Argentina’s culture because they show love for nature and freedom, which is another reason I chose this as a great artifact.