Complementarity of methods and sources in the historical study of indigenous families (Belén, Altos de Arica, 1750-1820)

Abstract

The reconstitution of families of Belén gave me access not only to demographic aspects
scarcely studied in Andean populations, but also to other qualitative phenomena, that allow
a historical analysis related to marriage and kinship. The use of different kind of files and
sources has strengthened the methodology development, which allows the comparison of
different documents, fomenting a critical review of each of the sources as well as the results
obtained using the various methods. Complementarity between them provides a comprehensive
understanding of the various aspects involved in the formation of families. In the case of
Belén, the integration of parish registers, revisitas and one padrón, church reports and marriage
certificate have led me to distinguish phenomena such as the presence of compound families,
two possible cases of polygyny, the male tendency towards endogamy within the village, possible
preferences regulating marriages, especially concerning first marriage, as well as to observe
demographic and social problems that lead me to hypothesize about the role those factors played
in favor of ritual kinship and against extended family.