Archaeological Tour: From the Ancestors

Tulor village

Our first destination is the prehistoric Tulor hamlet – a valuable relict of the first settlements of farmers belonging to the San Pedro de Atacama culture (800 B.C. – 500 AD) who settled in the area where the San Pedro River flows into the Salt Flat basin, a few kilometres south of the homonymous village. The hamlet is an architectural unit which is composed of circular enclosures made of adobe that are linked between each other. It has been covered by sand and today lies 1,2 meters beneath the surface. Only a small part has been excavated, but there is a reproduction of a few rooms and a storage space which can be visited. The site is administrated by the indigenous community of Coyo.

Pukará de Quitor (“Fortified Village”)

Our next encounter with the atacameñan history takes us north of San Pedro de Atacama, to a steep mountainside in the valley of the San Pedro River, surrounded by endemic vegetation and cultivated lands. There, in the 12^th century, the fortress of Quitor was built as a way of defence against bordering nations. Since it had to accommodate around 400 people, the Pukará comprised over 160 rooms connected by squares, narrow corridors and storages spaces.

During the Spanish conquest, under the command of Francisco de Aguirre the “Site of the Headless” was carried out – decapitating the Likan Antai leaders to prove the power of the invadors.

In 1981, restauration works of this National Monument started and were resumed in 1992.

The Pukará de Quitor is administrated by the indigenous community of Quitor.

Peine and “Old Peine”

After lunch we continue our way south, in order to get to the most southern oasis of the Salt Flat: Peine. Situated between two canyons, the area is characterized by algarrobo, chañar and fruit trees. Formerly, the Inca road system passed through here and later Diego de Almagro and Pedro de Valdivia – as well as illustrious miners and explorers.

A local guide introduces us to the archaeological ruins of “Old Peine” which document Peine´s prehispanic antecedents, revealing successive cultural occupations of guanaco hunters, shepherds and farmers.

During the ruling of the Incas, the Ruins of Old Peine were one of the most important tambos (“inn”) along the Inca road system. Between the ruins stands out the Mission Chapel (constructed at the end of the 16^th century), being one of the first buildings declared a National Monument in Chile.

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