Carlos Aldunate

Sacred Mountains in the Highlands of the South-Central Andes

Abstract Drawn by the rich pre-Columbian legacy of the region, we studied the prehistoric groups of peoples who have settled in the high canyons of Atacama (above 3000 m), on the western slopes of the South-Central Andes, for the past 30 years. The traditional culture of the present-day indigenous Andean population enabled us to interpret the material remains left by pre-Columbian peoples, especially their particular way of understanding and occupying the land, knowledge of its flora and fauna, beliefs related to the sacredness that permeates all aspects of their lives, and their way of inhabiting the landscape that surrounds them. Ethnographic research is a priority in the highlands of northern Chile because the harnessing of water for industrial and urban use has dramatically reduced extensive areas of pastureland, springs, and streams. This progressively restricts the possibility for flora, fauna, and humans to survive in traditional settlements and stimulates gradual, forced migration toward the urban enclaves of the desert. Our research aims to present some aspects of our archaeological and ethnographic work and, especially, to explore ideological aspects related to the mountains in this region, from pre-Hispanic to the present.

Ethnobotany of pre-altiplanic community in the Andes of northern Chile

The perception of the surrounding environment and use of the flora by the inhabitants of Toconce, a Pre-Altiplanic community in the Andes of northern Chile, were investigated. Six ecological units, which are given the local names of Pampa, Tolar, Medano, Pajonal, Hoyada, and Paniso, are recognized by the people of Toconce on the basis of their different dominant plants, geomorphology and microclimate. These units are in turn integrated into 3 units of landscape utilization: Cerro, Campo and Chacra. The latter is an artificial unit, corresponding to the man-made terraces located on the steep slopes of the Andean canyons. The Campo is a pastoral area, mainly for llamas. The Cerro, situated at higher elevation, has ritual as well as economic importance. This altitudinal sector is the place for the gathering of llareta, the most valuable vegetal fuel in Toconce. Seven categories of plant use are defined: forage, medicinal, food, fuel, crafts, ritual and construction. The inhabitants of Toconce have maximized the use of the plant resources in each altitudinal level. This long-lasting cultural pattern is being gradually modified due to the influence of industrial development and growth of the neighboring urban centers.

Paisajes culturales de Cobija, Costa de Antofagasta, Chile

This paper deals with the different perceptions of Chilean northern landscapes that arecommonly refered to as the Atacama Desert. The present aboriginal descendants of thepeoples that inhabited these lands throughout millennia conceive and live in this partof the country in different ways as the europeans that first explored these territories,and the modern immigrants, today engaged in the extractive industrial activities that are making the northern cities grow faster than ever. We are interested especially in thelocal peoples that had and have taken the best advantage of the poor natural resourcesin this territory. In this occasion, we will focus our interest on the coastal territories ofAntofagasta Region, characterized by its extreme dryness, with no permanent sources offresh water, in contrast with a great richness of its maritime resources.

COBIJA Y SUS VÍAS DE CONEXIÓN CON EL INTERIOR DE ATACAMA: DESDE LA COLONIA HASTA LA GUERRA DEL SALITRE*

Contrastando con la imagen de desolacion y hostilidad implantada sobre la Depresion Intermedia de Atacama mediante el concepto de despoblado, la transecta altitudinal que une Cobija y Calama se destaca a la luz de la investigacion historica y arqueologica como un escenario en donde distintos grupos humanos desplegaron a lo largo del tiempo diversas estrategias de habitar y transitar, comunicando la costa arreica, la cuenca del Loa medio y los oasis interiores de la Region de Antofagasta. Integrando estrategias de relevamiento de datos y metodologias de analisis, que incluyen el estudio de cartografia historica y cronicas, prospecciones arqueologicas y el uso de tecnologias de informacion geografica, se abordan los paisajes viales configurados por el desplazamiento de personas y bienes en este espacio internodal en momentos historicos, relevando informacion respecto de su materializacion en rutas de transito concretas y a los factores socioeconomicos, geopoliticos, ambientales y tecnologicos que marcaron su surgimiento, uso, reestructuracion y abandono.