About a quarter of the toponymy in Elqui Valley is of indigenous origin, overwhelmingly
Quechua and
Mapuche. There is scant
Diaguita (Kakan) toponymy known in the area despite it being considered a homeland of that people by various authors. Chilean toponymy in
Tarija, Bolivia, including "Erqui" along with other evidence have been interpreted to suggest that Incas
deported defeated tribes from Elqui Valley to southern Bolivia. After or during conquest Incas would have settled foreign tribes such as the
Churumatas in Elqui Valley, and ended up imposing Quechua placenames on the local geography. This rebellion would have been brutally repressed by the Incas who gave rebels "great chastise". ==See also==