…in the Middle Archaic, with base camps established for specific activities. The inland hunters, however, occupied their sites for longer periods and brought coastal resources to make use of there….
Art
…shamanistic practices that included the use of hallucinogenic substances. In the latter case, the Limarí style features engravings of human masks with ornate headdresses, such as those found in the…
Arte
…use of monochromatic surfaces, a preference for dark tones, and emphasis on molded decorations. The Pitrén produced a large variety of ceramic forms that range from simple globular bottles to…
Hunter-gatherers of the southern zone
…Continuing a tradition begun at Monte Verde, the oldest site occupied by megafauna hunters in Chilean territory, the hunter-gatherers of southern Chile specialized in making use of the…
Marine hunter-gatherers of the southern zone
…only extracted large numbers of mollusks but also developed certain fishing technologies that were unknown—or not nearly as popular—in other lands. One such technology was their use of nets to…
Marine hunter-gatherers of the southern zone
…mollusksin large quantities but also developed certain fishing technologies that were unknown—or not nearly as popular—in other lands. A case in point is their use of nets to trap fish…
Location and Environment
…diverted into pipelines and Laguna San Pedro has been drained for use in mining, sanitation and railway activities. This serious ecological alteration has forced most local Quechua families, like those…
Art
…Traditional ceramic and textile arts are still practiced in some Quechua communities. Pottery is manufactured primarily for domestic use and includes large urns for storing food and drink, and…
Art
…to practice the ancient techniques to make their pieces, which include large urns for storing food and dishes for daily use. Textiles are produced by women, especially those living in…
Economy
…shellfish, but the guanaco remained the staple food source. Early hunters relied on stone-tipped spears and bolas, with the bow and arrow entering into use around the year 500 CE….
The Image of the Shaman
…a feline, an animal that was closely associated with the use of visionary plants. The figure’s long snout seems to emphasize the pathway through which the drug was inhaled, and…
Leather Armor
…serpents and other beings that represented deities. Their transformation was assisted by the use of exotic accessories to change the warriors’ appearance. Thus, instead of becoming an animal, a warrior…
The pictographs of Milla
…latter site. The Milla panels contain large-scale red pictographs painted onto rock walls that are highly visible from the valley floor. The combined use of lines and flat painting are…
Feline and Human Motifs on Atacameña Spoons
…interpret the presence of felines on many pre-Columbian artifacts. In many South American cultures these images are associated with the consumption of psychoactive substances. Nevertheless, the exact use of these…
Warrior Headgear
…From 1000 to 1400 C.E., the use of maces and other large weapons reached a peak among northern Chilean groups. To defend themselves against these heavy weapons, opposing…
Flutes and “Chinos”
…and its unique sound are still in use today in the “Chino” dances performed by groups in traditional campesino, fishing and mining villages between Copiapó and the Aconcagua Valley. The…
Rapa Nui
…to celebrations and recreational use. This music came from Samoa, Tahiti and Hawaii and was accompanied by the guitar. The Polynesian music of Rapa Nui lacks the transcendent sense of…
History
…social units, however, they did not all use the same ceramic designs. Other evidence of their autonomy is found in the funerary practices described. Despite the scant information available, the…
Art
…among the Kawésqar as well as the neighboring Selk’nam and Yaghan peoples, but in this tribe it was usually only for ceremonial use. The people drew lines and geometric shapes…
Economy
…alive. There is little evidence of bow and arrow use, but dogs were certainly used to hunt deer, and in later times feral cattle. Sea lion and whale meat was…
Settlement patterns
…holding in warmth. Women slept close to the fire, men near the entrances. When a family moved on, it left the dwelling for others to use rather than dismantling it….
History
…main language and severely restricted the use of the indigenous language. Today, Kawésqar is spoken only in private, when outsiders are not present. The Kawesqars’ first contact with Western civilization…
History
…between the Bío Bío Rover and Reloncaví Sound. When the Spanish came to this region, however, the Mapuche tongue of Mapudungun was in use all the way from the Choapa…
History
…The term ‘Chango’ first appears in the middle of the seventeenth century in reference to a tribe occupying the coastal region between Copiapó and Coquimbo. Over time, use of…