Práctica religiosa, especialización artesanal y estatus

Grave goods from six pre-Hispanic cemeteries in the San Pedro de Atacama oasis, Chile (500–1500 AD) reveal social and ritual aspects of the Atacamenian religious system. Statistical analysis of artifact categories from the Le Paige Notes compared burials containing hallucinogenic paraphernalia with those lacking it. Differences in the management of certain goods—the 'circle of materializing objects'—suggest distinct artisan specializations among ayllus, status differences within society, and control of interregional exchange circuits by the Atacamenian elite.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This work presents the results of a multidisciplinary research focused on the contextual study of the grave goods of six pre-Hispanic cemeteries of the San Pedro de Atacama oasis, Antofagasta Region, Chile. The main objective was to deepen the social and ritual aspects of the prehispanic religious system in Atacama (500-1500 AD), based on the archaeological evidence of the hallucinogenic paraphernalia to elucidate the identity of the individuals carrying it and verify the hypothesis about their status as members of the Atacamenian elite. Databases with the information transcribed from the Le Paige Notes for these cemeteries served as a basic instrument; from them, the statistical analysis was structured according to artifact categories that allowed us to establish correlations between the different components of the mortuary offerings, comparing those that included elements of the psychotropic equipment with those that lacked them. Thus, differences emerged in the management of certain goods that made up the “circle of materializing objects” of the Atacamenian elite. The foregoing raises the existence of different artisan specializations between ayllus and status diferences within this society, as well as the control of interregional exchange circuits by said elite.