Cielo y juegos de hilo. Representación de la temporalidad cíclica entre los pilagá del Pilcomayo

The Pilaga of the Gran Chaco measure the passing of time with different signs, some of which can be observed in the sky. These astral objects and the temporary cycles coexist and have been both symbolized and represented within the Pilaga tradition by string figures. This paper analyzes the relationship between two string figures and several astral objects. Firstly, we discuss the string figure dedicated to the moon ( a woroyk ), which alludes to the month concept and involves three successive figures: dosolqa qonaqa , ‘two spoons’; Aworoyk dasocisegem ,  ‘moon falling back’; and A woroik yalemakacirini ,  ‘moon upside down’. On the other hand, two asterisms related to the annual cycle are also formed by consecutive string figures: Dapici’ , the Pleiades; and waqcirini (stars) Yarayna’di , Orion´s Belt. The Pilaga’s comprehension of these objects led us to inquiry about how they form time patterns. This reveals meaningful connections with the annual renovation of nature, and the human life cycle. In short, natural cycles and string figures both concern to the categorization of time spans by expressing periodicity, renovation, as well as fertility and the social and material reproduction of Pilaga culture.