Hydraulic mills were introduced in the early colonial period in the Americas to grind wheat into flour. During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the rise of the agro-export model in Latin America shaped the development of a flour industry in which water-powered mills played a central role. Over time, these technologies were used not only to increase production for the export market but also to meet the needs of domestic consumption, both local and regional. In this context, in 2017 we began to investigate the characteristics of a hydraulic mill, currently in disuse, in the town of Payogasta in the province of Salta (Argentina), to determine its chronology and functionality. In addition to surveying the structure, we conducted excavations in the nearby rooms that were part of the site. We found that this mill was in operation between the end of the nineteenth and the end of the twentieth centuries, grinding wheat, corn, carob, and red bell pepper, and that the adjoining rooms were used to house the people who were waiting their turn to grind their raw materials.

中文翻译：

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对阿根廷萨尔塔 19 世纪水磨坊的考古分析

液压磨是在美洲殖民时期早期引入的，用于将小麦磨成面粉。十九世纪和二十世纪，拉丁美洲农产品出口模式的兴起塑造了面粉工业的发展，其中水力磨坊发挥了核心作用。随着时间的推移，这些技术不仅被用来增加出口市场的产量，而且还满足当地和区域国内消费的需求。在此背景下，我们于 2017 年开始调查位于萨尔塔省（阿根廷）帕约加斯塔镇目前废弃的液压磨机的特征，以确定其年代和功能。除了勘察结构之外，我们还在附近属于该遗址的房间进行了挖掘。