maria_del_carmen_carrillo

A Peruvian anthropologist who preserved Amazonian indigenous knowledge through participatory documentation

Maria del Carmen Carrillo (1925-2001) was a groundbreaking Peruvian anthropologist whose work in ethnoecology and participatory documentation preserved the cultural heritage of Amazonian indigenous communities. Born in Pucallpa to a mestizo family, she grew up interacting with Shipibo-Conibo communities, fostering an early appreciation for their ecological knowledge systems.

In the 1950s, Carrillo developed innovative participatory research methods that centered indigenous voices in documenting medicinal plant knowledge. Her 1957 publication 《The Living Pharmacy of the Amazon》 recorded over 800 medicinal plant uses, all validated through collaboration with local healers. This approach became a model for UNESCO's later intangible heritage preservation programs.

Her most significant contribution was the establishment of the Amazon Ethnoecological Archive in 1965, which digitized oral histories and traditional ecological knowledge. This archive now contains over 10,000 hours of recorded knowledge from 27 Amazonian ethnic groups. Carrillo's advocacy led to the 1973 Peruvian law recognizing indigenous knowledge as cultural patrimony.

Though overshadowed by male contemporaries like anthropologist Alfonso Ortiz-Reyes, Carrillo's methodologies directly influenced later initiatives like the Royal Botanic Gardens' Indigenous Knowledge Project. Modern researchers like Dr. Rosario Huaman continue her work, demonstrating the enduring importance of her participatory approach. Her legacy is honored annually during the Maria del Carmen Carrillo Indigenous Knowledge Week.