Latin America
AA-2026-56C5D4
On the image
A man in khaki trousers holds up two iguanas by a string, a typical roadside transaction from the 1970s where local wildlife was presented as a commodity for passing travelers. The larger reptile dangles with the peculiar stiffness of something recently deceased, suggesting a certain efficiency in the local hunting methods.
An older woman watches the exchange with the calm, practiced demeanor of someone who has conducted this exact negotiation countless times, a necessary stoicism when one's livelihood involves convincing strangers that dead lizards make fine purchases. A child nearby presents another, smaller iguana, ensuring no potential sale is overlooked.
In the background, a large American car waits patiently, indicating a road trip where the acquisition of unusual local goods was often an integral part of the travel experience. It serves as a reminder that some of the most memorable vacation discoveries involved an immediate exchange of currency for something that likely never made it past customs.
The historian's note
The image captures a moment of roadside commerce in what appears to be a Latin American country during the 1970s. Such scenes were common, with indigenous women and children selling various local products, including crafts, food, and often, small game or reptiles like iguanas, to tourists and travelers.
Iguanas were, and in some regions still are, a traditional food source and were also sold as curiosities. The presence of a distinctively American-made car from the late 1960s or early 1970s places the scene within a period of increased road travel and tourism in the Americas.
This interaction highlights the economic dynamics and cultural exchanges that often occurred between international visitors and local populations in rural or remote areas during this era.
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Roadside Iguana Sale, Latin America, 1970s. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-56C5D4. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/roadside-iguana-sale-latin-america-1970s.
@misc{aaAA202656C5D4,
title = {Roadside Iguana Sale, Latin America, 1970s},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-56C5D4},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/roadside-iguana-sale-latin-america-1970s}
}TY - ART TI - Roadside Iguana Sale, Latin America, 1970s PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-56C5D4 UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/roadside-iguana-sale-latin-america-1970s ER -
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