THE PETROGLYPHS OF CHIUCHIU, CHILE

The site of Chiuchiu is situated in the quebrada (river gorge) of the river Loa, some 40 km NE of the town of Calama in Chile. The desert landscape is bordered by a chain of volcanos that are invisible from the petroglyphic site. The engravings depicted in these webpages are all found on the eastern side of the north-south running river, just north of the village of Chiuchiu.

The valley floor at Chiuchiu is flat and occupied by fields for agriculture. Again there is a striking contrast between the bleak desert and the green oases in the valley. The photograph shows the opening of the river gorge, looking south in the direction of the village of Chiuchiu. The rock art here is mainly found on boulders that once tumbled down the cliffs. Only a few engravings are found high upon those cliff walls. One scarcely occurring image concerns the above view of a frog or toad, venerated throughout the Andes for its association with rain. An exceptional engraving is the set of two camelids of which the front legs seem to be missing (deliberately or on purpose?).

One of the most interesting rocks at this site is Boulder 24. On its vertical north facing surface are several depictions of radiant-head human figures with staffs in their raised hands. In one of my papers I have suggested that these figures may be representations of the Staff-God, possibly Wiracocha. On this panel are four human figures and also two animal engravings, one possibly being a feline (puma or jaguar) in an almost upright position as if it is jumping.

Links to Rock Art webpages of South America