San Francisco gorge was part from migration route used by the first inhabitants, from the most ancient times. This and other trails allowed people to reach best places for settlement, contributing to their subsistence and settling the continent, from hunters and gatherers partly nomads from Archaic Period (10000/300 BC) to cultural wealth from Inca Period (1400/1536 AC).
That is the reason for which the area in which La Canabina is now located has a lot of prehistoric record, transforming into an archeological complex with a great value at Aconcagua Valley. Being a private enclosure has allowed the chance from preserving these sites, being an honor for us to spread and take care from this significant heritage.
Several settlement areas have been discovered, old Pucaras with remains such as mortars and other lithic tools, rests from pottery, as well as engraved stones or petroglyphs (cave art manifestations).
Cave art is related to settlement areas, high altitude sanctuaries and elements which marked the trail or state limits between inhabited areas (known) and not inhabited areas (magical world) having an obvious religious-sacred connotation.
Petroglyphs are drawings printed on the rocks through subtractionstriking or scrapping which images or symbols intended to express several spiritual manifestations from their inhabitants, beyond everyday life and transcending through time. The last studies have characterized two different styles. The first one corresponding to pre-Incan period, Style 1 (Late Intermediate Period, year 1000 AC to 1400 AC) and the second one corresponding to Inca Period, Style 2 (Inca period from 1400 AC to 1536 AC).
During colonial period, this territory was part from San Francisco de Regis Estate at Aconcagua valley belonging to Toro Mazote family. Estate was donated in 1756 to the Jesuits who used it until their expulsion in 1767 when it became a property from Ursuline nuns.
During independence period it is said this place wasoften used by Manuel Rodriguez when he was heading or returning from Argentina, being a trail used by the cavalry from the Liberation Army when they confronted the Realist Army during the famous Chacabuco Battle.
In XIX century Canabes family became owners from the property building a patrimonial house made of adobe, naming it as La Canabina. In 1928 La Canabina was bought by Cristi family who have lived, worked, and taken care from this territory for three generations.
Since 2013 La Canabina has been divided in more than one society. Unofficially the whole property still has this name due to the local historical and cultural memory.
