68.2k views
0 votes
What are the only two large animals to have been domesticated in the Americas? Where were they domesticated, and what were they used for?

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

The llama and the alpaca are the only large animals domesticated in the Americas, specifically in the Andean region. They were used for their meat, wool, and as pack animals, with their dried dung also serving as fuel in high-altitude areas where wood was not available.

Step-by-step explanation:

The only two large animals to have been domesticated in the Americas before European contact were the llama and the alpaca, both of which are native to the Andean region of South America. These Andean camelids were domesticated roughly around nine thousand years ago and were integral to the societies that developed in the high altitudes of the Andes. Among their various uses, llamas and alpacas were valued for their meat, wool, and as pack animals. Their dried dung was also used as fuel, especially at high altitudes where wood was scarce. These domesticated animals played a critical role in Andean cultures, most notably in the Inca civilization, but they did not pull heavy loads or carry humans due to their temperamental nature when overloaded.

User Matthias Berth
by
7.7k points