
The First Inhabitants
Archaeological studies carried out, starting in 1930, by experts such as Junios Bird, Joseph Emperaire, Annete Laming and Mauricio Massone have confirmed that approximately 5500 years ago there were humans dwelling in Última Esperanza. These first inhabitants belonged to a culture of hunters; Aonikenk (people of the south), Tehuelches or Patagones, who lived of guanaco (lama guanicoe), small rodents, birds and later on, products from the sea.
At the beginning of the 20th century, large groups of wild horses settled in the green valleys of the rivers flowing from the Sierra Baguales. Their presence gave the indigenous peoples reason to frequent the district of Última Esperanza, with the intention of increasing their number of horses. The ample lands of the Rivers Vizcachas and Las Chinas and the Gullies of Zamora and Los Baguales were the scenes for their usual forays. As a result indigenous graves belonging to the Aonikenk have been found on the peak of Sierra Contreras (on land belonging to the Estancia Cerro Guido).