The Atacameños protected their villages with strong stone walls known as
pukara, a
Quechua word. They also developed ceramic crafts, copper work (using copper extracted from
Chuquicamata) and gold work. Many of the historic settlements still exist today with the same names, including
Quitor,
Chiu-Chiu,
Lasana,
Turi,
Topayín,
Susques,
Calama,
Toconao,
Antofagasta de la Sierra, and one of the most important settlements in the region,
San Pedro de Atacama.
Language The original language of the Atacameños was the recently extinct language of
Kunza. In the small settlements around
Cordillera Domeyko and
Salar de Atacama, both within the traditional lands of the Likan Antay, there are residents that speak Spanish without
yeísmo which is otherwise a widespread feature of
Chilean Spanish.
Cuisine The Atacameño were
lamini herders who made best use of the scarce water and sparse terrain by using their livestock -
llama and
alpaca - both as pack animals and for their meat, hide and wool. Like many other Andean people, the Atacameño created a
terraced agriculture to prevent
water run-off. They grew various crops, including pumpkins, zucchini, chili, beans, tobacco, melon, corn, and, above all, potatoes and quinoa. They fertilized the crops with
guano from seabirds, which they transported inland on llama. They also ate meat from their livestock and bought fish and shellfish from coastal peoples in return for ''
ch'arki'', a dried, salted meat they produced.
Ceramics The first period, between the years of 400 AD and 900 AD, saw the Atacameño produce pink glazed pottery, including anthropomorphic jugs, as well as golden jewelry and cups. During the second period, between 900 AD and 1200 AD, black glaze pottery was used, showing the influence of
Tiwanaku culture. Artifacts included tablets for inhaling hallucinogens from the
Huilco tree and
San Pedro cactus, with carved images of human figurines,
condors and religious objects. In the third period, from 1200 AD to 1500 AD, shows the influence of the Inca civilization with the construction of stone “pukara” fortresses.
Religion Smoking hallucinogenic substances was a central part of Atacameño religious culture. Smoking ceremonies were believed to bring humans closer to the gods, allowing the smoker to take on the power of birds, cats or snakes. Finely carved tablets were used to hold the drug, which was then inhaled using wooden or bone tubes. The Atacameños also adopted the
Inca sun cult and constructed altars in high places, especially on
Licancabur volcano, which was considered sacred and the home of their many gods. They believed in life after death and buried their dead with all the necessary belongings they would need for the journey. == Archeological centres and museums ==