Alto Ramírez East Pampa Gallinazo Geoglyphs (Gallinazo Plain Figures)
Gallinazo Geoglyphs · Eastern Alto Ramírez Plain
Middle Horizon to Late Intermediate (Cabuza–Maitas 650–1200 CE)·Lluta Cabuza–Maitas–San Miguel valley traders·🇨🇱 Arica y Parinacota, Lluta Valley km 62–68 Pampa Gallinazo East of Alto Ramírez, Chile
About
About Alto Ramírez East Pampa Gallinazo Geoglyphs (Gallinazo Plain Figures)
2 km east of Lluta Valley crest and 62 km from Pacific. 31 figures on flat alluvial pavement: 12–26 m rhomb anthropomorphs with rectangular heads, 9 m seabird frigate variant (coastal icon inland), 140 m double-line solstice corridor (azimuth 246° to winter solstice sunset), and 6 linear guides 80–140 m linking to Lluta river terrace settlement LL-42 (Polleras). Additive desert-varnish pebble + cleared gypsum interior, re-darkening varnish dated by Del presencia 2020 lichenometry ~700–1200 CE.
Settlement ceramic Cabuza–Maitas (650–1000 CE) at line terminus. Gallinazo plain preserves wind-shadow clarity; vandal tire tracks 2019 partially mitigated. Route function: eastward return guide for caravans descending from altiplano.
Why it mattersEasternmost Alto Ramírez extension showing coastal seabird icon 42 km inland — Lluta inland–coast corridor terminus.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Frigate seabird 42 km inland meaning
Theories
- 01Coastal clan identity transposed inland by caravan groups
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.650 – 1200 CE
- Period
- Middle Horizon to Late Intermediate (Cabuza–Maitas 650–1200 CE)
- Culture
- Lluta Cabuza–Maitas–San Miguel valley traders
- Builders
- Gallinazo pampa Lluta valley farmers–caravaneers
- Purpose
- Eastward caravan return guides and coastal-inland icon transposition on pampa alluvium
- Abandoned
- c.1350 CE
- Rediscovered
- 1978 Briones Lluta survey; 2020 lichenometry Gallinazo
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
650 CE
Cabuza settlement LL-42 founded
900 CE
Solstice corridor clearing
2020
Lichenometry dates east pampa 700–1200 CE
On the ground
Structures & features
18.3800° S · 69.8800° W · 1450 m · 3 mapped features
Gallinazo Rhomb Anthropomorph Field
geoglyph12–26 m rhomb-head anthropomorphs in open file 300 m
18.3790° S · 69.8790° WWinter Solstice Corridor (140 m)
earthworkDouble-line corridor azimuth 246° to winter solstice sunset, 3.2 m wide
18.3810° S · 69.8810° WInland Seabird (Frigate) Figure
geoglyph9 m seabird frigate with varnish pebble outline — coastal icon inland
18.3820° S · 69.8800° W