Atacama people
The Atacameño are an indigenous people in northern Chile in the area of the Atacama Desert.
History
It is estimated that in the region of Puna, the first settlements were created in the north of Chile before about 11,000 years ago. The Atacameños were the founders of the so-called San Pedro culture and settled in the oases of the Atacama Desert.
Around 800 BC they built the settlement Tulor near the present town of San Pedro de Atacama. This place was settled about 1300 years. 900 AD, was the fortified city Quitor. In the 12th century, the Inca conquered the territories of Atacameño and tried to integrate them into their culture. In this train they built the city Pukará Quitor further.
The Valle de Jerez was used by the Incas as Hauptkarawanenweg. Here you will find up to now ancient rock carvings ( petroglyphs ).
Mid-16th century the Spanish arrived in the wake of the expeditions of Diego de Almagro and Pedro de Valdivia in the village, to provide themselves with supplies there.
Social structure
The Atacameños were the first farmers and therefore also the first sedentary group in the country. Since the agricultural editable zone was very small, they constructed terraces that they fertilized and irrigated with llama dung. It was cultivated several varieties of maize, rice, beans, figs, cotton, pumpkins and potatoes.
Llamas and alpacas were raised for meat production and use of skins. They were also used as a vehicle to drive to the cities on the coast trade.
The craftsmanship and artistic development of the Atacama is evident in the production of pottery, textiles, wicker and wood carvings. They also dominated the early metallurgy and the production of copper and bronze.
The Atacameños believed in life after death and therefore the dead were buried with clothes and food for her journey into the next life. They worshiped various forces of nature, but took no temples or places of worship.
Even today there are small Atacameño villages, eg in Caspana.
- Indigenous people in South America
- Ethnic group in Chile