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photo by Sefton Ipock
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Llamas and alpacas have been an important
source of meat and wool for Atacameños since
ancient times. This petroglyph, located outside
of Toconao, was created more than 3,000 years ago.
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Rock art consists of artistic manifestations of images and graphic
symbols that have abstract and complex meaning. There are greater
concentrations of rock art in northern Chile, defined by techniques
used to create them.
Petroglyphs are relief or bas-relief figures carved or etched into
rock or stones. Pictographs are paintings that are symbolic representations
of man and his surrounding enviroment. These paintings were created
by using tools, such as fingers, brushes or animal skins.
Rock art in the area has been divided into three phases within history:
Phase 1
Associated with nomadic hunters and collecters during the Precambrian
period (3000 to 2000 BC). These rock art are commonly representations
of nature and llamas, guanacos and vicuñas.
Phase 2
Influenced by the Tiwanaku civilization (400 to 900 BC). These figures
emphasize llamas and human characters wearing head ornaments. This
phase was also characterized by scraping and pecking carving techniques.
Phase 3
Characterized by representations of humans wearing shirts and hats
with feathers, created by deep engravings. The figures are also
shown holding heads of cattle with cords. These rock art originated
between 900 and 1470 BC.
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photo by Christine Nguyen
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The driest desert on earth houses a
number of ruins from the ancient Tiwanaku, Incan, and
other Andean cultures. The ruins at Takir, on the road
between Socaire and San Pedro, were built on a rock outcropping
between two sweet water canyons and were used exclusively
for ceremonial purposes. enlarge
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