Huara Geoglyph Field
Pampa de Huara Lines
Late Intermediate Tarapaca phase·Tarapaca and Arica caravan cultures·🇨🇱 Tarapaca Region, Huara Commune, Chile
About
About Huara Geoglyph Field
Dense low-altitude geoglyph cluster 8 km east of Huara where Tamarugal flat rises to precordillera. 120+ figures within 3 km include fine-lined camelids, condors, rhomboids and oversized human footprints (3-5 m) executed by dark-stone accumulation on light salar silt between 800-1400 CE. Footprint geoglyphs are unique to this locale, with toe details formed by individual stones. C14 on guano-silt middens dates intensive use to 1000-1250 CE. The field straddles the ancient Arica-Altiplano caravan trunk; footprint effigies propitiated successful crossing of the absolute desert. 2017 drone survey recorded 2.1 km of parallel track-aligned lines previously mistaken for vehicle ruts.
Why it mattersType-site for footprint geoglyphs, globally rare; proves symbolic specialization by valley.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Footprint meaning - ancestor vs offering
Theories
- 01Votive for salar traverse
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.800-1400 CE
- Period
- Late Intermediate Tarapaca phase
- Culture
- Tarapaca and Arica caravan cultures
- Builders
- Huara-Pica caravan operators
- Purpose
- Trail shrine and footprint votives for desert crossing
- Abandoned
- c.1400 CE
- Rediscovered
- 1968 Lautaro Nunez; 2017 Marquet drone mapping
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
800 CE
Earliest camelid figures
1100 CE
Footprint effigy fluorescence
2017
Drone maps 2.1 km lines
On the ground
Structures & features
19.9450° S · 69.7500° W · 1080 m · 2 mapped features
Footprint Effigy Cluster
geoglyphGroup of 12 footprint figures 4-5 m
19.9440° S · 69.7510° WCondor Geoglyph
geoglyph18-m condor with outspread wings
19.9470° S · 69.7490° W