Esteco Salta

Description: Nuestra Señora de Talavera del Esteco (a Native American term, specifically from the Tocopí ethnic group) was the name of one of the oldest city founded by Spaniards in the actual Argentine territories. Its name changed but the denomination Esteco remained. In 1566, a group of Spaniards founded another city that received the name of Nuestra Señora de Talavera de Madrid. If Esteco belonged to the actual province of Salta, the city of Nuestra Señora de Talavera belonged to the actual province of Chaco. In 1609, the city Esteco started to decline due to the decay of the commercial route through the Salado River plus the polemic generated in terms of the exploitations of Native-Americans poputation. Most of the inhabitants left for the city of Talavera de Madrid, and a few remained in a big ranch (estancia) that kept the name of Old Esteco. Meanwhile Talavera de Madrid with the addition of the new inhabitants was re-founded and received the name of Nuestra Señora de Talavera de Madrid de Esteco, or New Esteco, and developed as a city in the Blue Country (Campo Azul). During the 17th century and thanks to its location close to the Royal Road (Camino Real)—the official route from Buenos Aires to Lima--, its cotton crops, and its local textile production the city boomed. Yet it seemed to be fated to destruction as plague, lack of water, the rebellion of the Native-Americans, and an earthquake destroyed New Esteco. The city disappeared reproducing the destiny of Old Esteco. In the 20th century, a group of archaeologists discovered the old city buried under the sand. The unearthing and study of Esteco work is fostered to-day under the auspices of the National Council of Science and Technology (CONICET). Extent and format of original material.