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  Geoglyphs Of The Atacama Desert
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 In the Atacama Desert of northern
Chile can be found another cluster of Pre-Columbian
Geoglyphs.
They were discovered in 1961 by
James Kieghlev, while performing an aerial survey of
the region, Some of the geoglyphs are as large
as 300 ft/100 meters. A later survey by
geologist Robert
Hamilton and engineer Emil de Bruyne resulted in the
realization that the region was, at one point,
populated by large agriculturally based culture with
large settlements and ceremonial centers.
The largest of the geoglyphs is "EL GIGANTE"
(the "Giant"),
which is almost 400 ft long (120 meters).
 To
date, on the hill-sides of Atacama, have been found
representations of: humans, animals, and geometric
designs. The appears to use similar techniques
to those found on the Nazca Plateau of Peru.
Unfortunately, access to these geoglyphs is
restricted by lack of roads, making a walking trek
necessary to view them. |
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Peru & The Nazca Plateau
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The Atacama Is An
Unrelenting Desert
With Almost No Rainfall In The Mountain Shadow
Of The Andes |
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Alternating Sand And
Salt Desert |
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Atacama Giant, Cerro Unita, Pozo
Almonte, Chile
There are over 5,000 prehistoric geoglyphs
in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile,
and like the
Nazca lines
of Peru, they are mysterious, beautiful
and awe-inspiring.
Although we can't know the entire reason
they were built, researcher Luis Briones
believes they are part sign post and
part story-telling along a
transportation network connecting the
South American civilizations in combined
commercial and religious travel led by
caravans of llamas.
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Chile's Atacama
Desert |
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The Atacama geoglyphs can be found
alone or in groups some as many as 65 geoglyphs. The
smallest figure is about 1 meter tall and the
largest the Atacama Giant 115 meters high. They are
found near major trade routes in the area and like
many geoglyphs can be best seen from the air. Dating
these geoglyphs is very difficult as newer ones have
been overlaid, there is some evidence that they may
be at least 2500 years old.
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Geology of Chile's Atacama
Desert |
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Seen from
space - notice the additional Diamond
shaped geoglyph to the right in the
photo |
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Class
2 Geoglyphs - Atacama Giant Group |
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Image
Quality |
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A note about
image quality: images of lines and
symbols taken by air or from satellite
images are adjusted to improve contrast and
visibility of the artifact (line or symbol).
The results vary from image to image.
We apologize for the quality of some of the
images, but it is due to the original source
images, and the difficulty of
photographing subject object.
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A Hillside Geoglyph
Like This Was Most Likely
A Territory Marker & A Guide For Returning
Commerce Caravans, But What Culture Produced It? |
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The Atacama "Giant"
Geoglyph |
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Note What Appears To Be
A Small Animal
Hanging From The Giant's Left Hand (image right) |
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Rendering of the Atacama Giant (more
precise than the actual geoglyph) |
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Geoglyphs or ancient agriculture?
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Class
2 Geoglyphs - Atacama Group 2 |
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There Are Numerous
Geoglyphs But They Are Far
Between And Access Is Very Difficult! |
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Class
2 Geoglyphs - Atacama Group 2 |
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Designs with llamas is a constant recurring theme. |
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Why So Many Photos? |
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The
goal of our website is to present multiple
views of each symbol for three reasons:
1) the lines are extremely difficult to
photograph due to lighting conditions and
the condition of the geoglyph itself,
2) to provide better context of
the symbol, showing some of its surrounding area,
and
3) because different views provide a
better understanding of the style of design
and perhaps a greater appreciation of the
genius of the constructors.
more science
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Class
2 Geoglyphs - Atacama Group 1 |
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A family
of figures |
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An
undocumented ceremonial site in the
Chacarilla Valley |
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Class
2 Geoglyphs - Atacama Group 2 |
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A "Nazca" style trapezoid |
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Class
2 Geoglyphs - Atacama Group 2 |
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Class
2 Geoglyphs - Atacama Group 2 |
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 Cerro Sol de
Aura Geoglyphs |
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A Different
Shape |
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Class
2 Geoglyphs - Atacama Group 3 |
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A distinctly different symbol.
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Class
2 Geoglyphs - Atacama Group 3 |
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The
Style of this geoglyph is similar to
those found in Peru's Nazca Plateau |
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Class
2 Geoglyphs - Atacama Group 2 |
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A shark? |
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Class
2 Geoglyphs - Atacama Group 2 |
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Class
2 Geoglyphs - Atacama Group 2 |
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East
of San Pedro de Atacama is a Nazca
like long line - very straight -
extending from the lower right
(south east) to the upper left
(north west) |
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The
following are anomalous geoglyphs of
the Atacama desert.
Unfortunately, the Atacama has been
subjected to hoaxes and modern
geo-art. Some of the following
are clearly modern, some suspect.
They are presented here, to
eliminate them as authentic
Precolumbian geoglyphs. |
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Class
3 Geoglyphs - Undefined Group |
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Line of
small mounds near San Pedro de Atacama |
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Class
3 Geoglyphs - Modern Construction |
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Clearly of
modern origin! |
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The Pre-Columbian
culture of the Atacama, just like the Nazca peoples,
produces a range of petroglyph motifs. A small
sample are presented here.
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Diagata Petroglyphs 200-700 AD |
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Alto Barranco
Petroglyphs |
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More Information About Petroglyphs |
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A
Common Prehispanic Design
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A Whale Hunt Above |
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The Sun
photo
by Maarten van Hoek |
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Cette
Valley Petroglyph |
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Antofagasta (on the Argentina side
of the border) valley petroglyph |
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Cerro
Chuρo Petroglyph |
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For Your Information |
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Fine
Precolumbian Art -
We Suggest! |
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Image
Quality |
|
A note about
image quality: images of lines and
symbols taken by air or from satellite
images are adjusted to improve contrast and
visibility of the artifact (line or symbol).
The results vary from image to image.
We apologize for the quality of some of the
images, but it is due to the original source
images, and the difficulty of
photographing subject object.
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