Azapa Cerro Moreno Geoglyphs (Mid-Valley Headland Figures)
Moreno Headland Geoglyphs · Cerro Moreno Azapa
Formative to Middle Horizon (Alto Ramírez–Tiwanaku 400–1000 CE)·Azapa Tiwanaku–Cabuza–San Miguel valley oasis·🇨🇱 Arica y Parinacota, Azapa Valley km 18–22 Cerro Moreno Headland (San Miguel–Tignamar), Chile
About
About Azapa Cerro Moreno Geoglyphs (Mid-Valley Headland Figures)
5 km east of Museo San Miguel (km 12 A-27) and 18 km from Pacific. Cliff 45 m above fertile valley floor; 26 figures on 28° north-facing colluvial slope: 14–31 m plumed anthropomorphs (Alto Ramírez–Tiwanaku tunic headdress), 12 m feline with spiral tail (Wari–Ica feline), and 48 m double linear guide to valley-bottom San Lorenzo Tiwanaku pukara. Additive varnish gravel (3–6 cm) border + interior scrape to orange tuffaceous substrate. Headdresses use Tiwanaku polychrome sherd mosaic at collar.
Radiocarbon at figure foot hut hearth 780±40 CE (Tiwanaku). Arroyo Azapa provides year-round water vs Lluta episodic — hence denser settlement context than Lluta. Valley view dominates Arica–altiplano transect.
Why it mattersOnly mid-Azapa headland with Tiwanaku tunic-headdress mosaic — Azapa as Tiwanaku colony emblem vs Lluta.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Tunic headdress color reconstruction from sherd mosaic
Theories
- 01Valley clan claim overlooking San José river oasis control
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.400 – 1000 CE
- Period
- Formative to Middle Horizon (Alto Ramírez–Tiwanaku 400–1000 CE)
- Culture
- Azapa Tiwanaku–Cabuza–San Miguel valley oasis
- Builders
- Azapa valley Tiwanaku-colony artisans + Cabuza farmers
- Purpose
- Oasis headland totem overlooking fertile San José river oasis — clan claim vs valley control signaling
- Abandoned
- c.1150 CE
- Rediscovered
- 1968 Museo San Miguel Azapa valley report; 2015 headland drone survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
400 CE
Earliest plumed anthropomorph Alto Ramírez phase
780 CE
Hearth C14 780±40 at figure foot
1968
Museo San Miguel recording
On the ground
Structures & features
18.5050° S · 70.1650° W · 420 m · 2 mapped features
Plumed Anthropomorph Row (14–31 m)
geoglyph14–31 m plumed Tiwanaku-headdress giants on 28° slope
18.5040° S · 70.1640° WFeline with Spiral Tail (12 m)
geoglyph12 m Wari–Ica feline with spiral tail, tuff interior
18.5060° S · 70.1660° W