Guinea pig

In his pictures, the artist Carmelón Berrocal depicts the guinea pig (Cavia tschudii, Cavia aperea f. porcellus), an important component of the Sarhua diet. Guinea pigs were first domesticated around 8000 years ago in Ayacucho, in excess of 3500 meters above sea level, in a process that culminated between 5500 and 3700 BC. The guinea pig is an important source of protein and other nutrients, and to this day it is the main ingredient in delicious dishes that vary across different regions and form part of Peru’s national cuisine.