Lluta Mid-Valley Geoglyphs (Molinos – Rosario Sector)
Geoglifos del Valle Medio del Lluta · Poconchile Hill Figures · Lluta Mid Terrace Lines
Late Intermediate (Cabza)·Lluta–Azapa agriculturalists·🇨🇱 Arica y Parinacota Region, Lluta Valley, km 45-65 (Poconchile–Molinos), Chile
About
About Lluta Mid-Valley Geoglyphs (Molinos – Rosario Sector)
Mid-valley terrace benches of the Lluta River (1,250 m) between Poconchile (km 45) and Molinos (km 65), complementary to the famous Alto Ramírez upper-valley pampa geoglyphs but on lower fluvial terraces 180 m above river. 27 figures: 20-45 m anthropomorphs in procession, 30 m feline, and 200-350 m cleanswept avenues marking the Lluta caravan trunk between coast and Altiplano. Technique transitions from pampa clearing (Alto Ramírez) to terrace stone-alignment with basalt cobble edging imported from valley floor.
Panels overlook pre-Hispanic ag terraces (chakras) still irrigated. Thermoluminescence at Molinos hearth 1080±90 CE calibrates use-phase. Threatened by Lluta international highway widening and avocado agro-expansion pumping.
Why it mattersFills gap between Alto Ramírez pampa and coastal Lluta mouth; demonstrates terrace vs pampa technique adaptation.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Terrace vs pampa chronological priority
Theories
- 01Highway salvage completeness
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.900-1350 CE
- Period
- Late Intermediate (Cabza)
- Culture
- Lluta–Azapa agriculturalists
- Builders
- Lluta valley ayllu caravans
- Purpose
- Terrace marking for mid-valley ag-pastoral caravan control and river-crossing wayfinding
- Abandoned
- c.1350 CE
- Rediscovered
- 1996 Briones–Niemeyer; 2010 Poconchile highway salvage survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1996
Briones–Niemeyer Lluta mid-valley mapping
2010
Highway 11-CH salvage records 9 new figures
On the ground
Structures & features
18.3980° S · 69.7850° W · 1250 m · 2 mapped features
Molinos Procession Anthropomorphs
geoglyphRow of five 28-m anthropomorphs in caravan procession
18.3950° S · 69.7800° WRosario Terrace Avenue
earthwork310-m swept avenue with cobble edging descending to river
18.4020° S · 69.7900° W