Cultural landscapes from Cobija, Coast of Antofagasta, Chile

Authors

  • Victoria Castro Investigadora Asociada Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino. Universidad Alberto Hurtado. Las Perdices 575, La Reina, Santiago
  • Carlos Aldunate Museo de Arte Precolombino, Bandera 361, Casilla 3657, Santiago
  • Varinia Varela Museo de Arte Precolombino, Bandera 361, Casilla 3657, Santiago

Abstract

This paper deals with the different perceptions of Chilean northern landscapes that arecommonly refered to as the Atacama Desert. The present aboriginal descendants of thepeoples that inhabited these lands throughout millennia conceive and live in this partof the country in different ways as the europeans that first explored these territories,and the modern immigrants, today engaged in the extractive industrial activities that are making the northern cities grow faster than ever. We are interested especially in thelocal peoples that had and have taken the best advantage of the poor natural resourcesin this territory. In this occasion, we will focus our interest on the coastal territories ofAntofagasta Region, characterized by its extreme dryness, with no permanent sources offresh water, in contrast with a great richness of its maritime resources.

Keywords:

Cultural landscapes, Desertic coast, Atacama