Chile Holidays: Back in time with the Atacama Culture
One of the most desolate yet most stunning and dramatic regions in Chile, the Atacama Desert is home to many natural wonders that will leave the traveler awe-struck by the power of mother earth. Punctuated by small oases, clefts of green in the all-encompassing yellowness of the desert, the Atacama is housing an amazing culture, the Atacamenos, which populated the area until the arrival of the overpowering Incas which established administrative centers in the region.
Former nomadic hunters, the Atacamenos adopted a sedentary way of life in the desert around 2,000 – 1,000 BC, mainly living from llama breeding and maize culture. The culture reached a peak in its influence and was one of the predominant one for a long time, in between 400 and 100 AD, with the formation of several settlements such as Lassana, Chiu-Chiu, Calama, San Pedro de Atacama, Toconao, Peine, and Tilomonte. As of today, surveys found that about 30,000 people with links to the Atacama culture remain, with about 10,000 who identify themselves as Atacamenos. None of them however, speak the native language, Kunza, which is believed to have been extinct since the 1950′s.
The conquest of the Incas led to political rather than cultural submission, allowing for the Atacama culture to survive through the centuries. They maintained their cultural model and social values intact despite the influence of the Incas. However, the arrival of the Spanish, and the 300 years of colonial domination put a serious strain on the Atacamenos whose numbers declined rapidly.
Many remnants of this fascinating culture can be found throughout the Atacama Desert and its small towns, with the architecture being one of the most striking reflections of the people’s ancient traditions and way of life. Throughout former Atacamenos settlements, it is possible to observe the Atacamenos traditional building techniques, mainly using adobe and cactus wood structures.
In the Atacama culture, housing also served as tombs, as the dead were buried in the same house they lived in, in graves dug in the floors and lined with stones.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/chile-holidays-back-in-time-with-the-atacama-culture-4106864.html
About the Author
This guide to the Atacamenos culture was written by an Chile travel expert at Chile For Less available to help you custom design your exciting Chile holidays.
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