Abstract

The distribution and location of Naturalistic Tradition rock art paintings from the Precordillera (western foothills of the Andean Cordillera), in northernmost Chile, are discussed. Stylistic similarities in rock art suggest a connection between different sites and the construction of a specific symbolic territory and cultural landscape, where information-flows played a significant role. This process begun after the end of the Middle Archaic period (ca. 6000 BP) and during the Late Archaic (6.000e-.700 BP), when important transformations took place in social organization, interaction, mobility, economy and ideology in the whole South-Central Andes region. In the Precordillera changes related to camelid management were crucial, as shown by specific scenes of animals and human-animal interactions. The legitimation of this space required a territorial definition and new social interactions. In addition to the study of settlement patterns in the precordillera, this rock art study contributes to the further consideration of the social dimensions of the archaic highland communities. (c) 2017 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.