It is the largest geoglyph site in the Region of Antofagasta and one of the most important in the world. They are ancient signposts that settlers left on caravan routes that connected the oasis of Calama with Quillagua, the region of Tarapacá and the pacific coast of Tocopilla. There are about 500 figures with geometric motifs, such as diamonds and concentric circles, zoomorphic figures such as camelids, lizards, birds and fish, and human motifs. Among them the image of the "balsero" stands out, a personage that is represented rowing on a raft and that evokes the pre-Hispanic navigation.
Chug Chug Park is located 20 km from the nitrate office of Maria Elena, 60 km from Calama in the Region of Antofagasta and 1,670 km north of Santiago.
From Calama take Route 24 to Chuquicamata and then follow the same route in the direction of Tocopilla. At km 19 take the right for the detour to Chug-Chug and continue for 12 km by a dust road.
It is estimated that they began to be made during the Formative Period, around the year 1000 b. C, although their proliferation was in the Intermediate Period, between the years 900 and 1450 AD Were designed with different techniques such as subtraction, addition or mixed. The subtraction technique consists in removing the surface layer of the soil, exposing the subsurface layer of lighter color. In the addition, the material is accumulated on the soil in the form of mounds. And in the mixed is a mixture between addition and subtraction. The desert have preserved them for hundreds of years.
The Atacama Desert Foundation works on the creation of an Archaeological Park for research, conservation and enhancement of geoglyphs, sponsored by the Council of National Monuments and with the support of the Autonomous Council Ayllus Sin Frontera, the Aymara Indigenous Community of Quillagua and the Atacameña Indigenous Community of Chunchuri. This project has been led by archaeologists Lautaro Núñez (National History Award), Luis Briones and Gonzalo Pimentel. Its objective is to reduce the serious damages geoglyphs have suffered produced by informal tourism, off road competitions and mining companies.
Web: www.fundaciondesiertodeatacama.cl E-mail: [email protected] and telephone +56 22229704. Free tour and tourist circuit with voluntary contribution.
Project developed with the support of: