Camarones Suca Confluence Geoglyphs (Rio Camarones–Suca Junction)
Suca Junction Figures · Camarones–Suca Confluence
Late Intermediate (1100–1420 CE)·Late Arica / San Miguel–Gentilar·🇨🇱 Arica y Parinacota, Camarones Valley lower, Suca tributary confluence near Cuya, Chile
About
About Camarones Suca Confluence Geoglyphs (Rio Camarones–Suca Junction)
Confluence terrace where Suca tributary meets Camarones main stem near Cuya (380 m). Eight figures on lower terrace gravels: 12-m marine fish, 20-m llama train, and 30-m ‘coast arrow’ pointing downstream toward Camarones mouth. Lower terrace floods episodically, so figures on raised 2 m berm with drainage cut. San Miguel and Gentilar sherds; fish iconography unique among Tarapacá geoglyphs suggesting coastal fisher–caravan convergence.
Why it mattersKey geoglyph illustrating Late Arica / San Miguel–Gentilar hydraulic/geoglyph/kite/kurgan tradition in Arica y Parinacota, Camarones Valley lower, Suca tributary confluence near Cuya.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Fish iconography in interior valley
Theories
- 01Fisher–caravan exchange marker
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.1100–1420 CE
- Period
- Late Intermediate (1100–1420 CE)
- Culture
- Late Arica / San Miguel–Gentilar
- Builders
- Late Arica
- Purpose
- Confluence marker at coastal valley junction
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1100–1420 CE
Initial construction
2020
Drone/UAV high-resolution mapping and heritage inventory
On the ground
Structures & features
19.0800° S · 70.0500° W · 380 m · 3 mapped features
Marine Fish (12 m)
geoglyph12-m fish with beach pebble inlay
19.0790° S · 70.0490° WCoast Arrow (30 m)
earthwork30-m arrow toward mouth
19.0810° S · 70.0510° WConfluence Llama Train (20 m)
geoglyph20-m llama train
19.0790° S · 70.0490° W