Salar del Sur Northeast Loma Geoglyphs (Loma Alta Terrace)
Loma Alta Figures · Salar del Sur NE Loma
Middle Formative (400 BCE–400 CE)·Formative Atacama·🇨🇱 Antofagasta, Sierra Gorda, Salar del Sur NE loma terrace, Chile
About
About Salar del Sur Northeast Loma Geoglyphs (Loma Alta Terrace)
Northeast loma terrace (2,320 m) 6 km NE of salar, with 180° view of central playa isle geoglyphs. Figures: 28-m stepped pyramid, 35-m ‘comb’ and 14-m camelid. Loma surface indurated caliche, figures excavated 8 cm into caliche to brilliant white substrate; edges reinforced with caliche blocks. Surface ceramics sparse (Formative Loa Café Alisado). Isle visibility suggests intervisibility network.
Why it mattersKey geoglyph illustrating Formative Atacama hydraulic/geoglyph/kite/kurgan tradition in Antofagasta, Sierra Gorda, Salar del Sur NE loma terrace.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Intervisibility with central isle figures
Theories
- 01Loma–isle visual communication
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.400 BCE–400 CE
- Period
- Middle Formative (400 BCE–400 CE)
- Culture
- Formative Atacama
- Purpose
- Loma terrace viewing figures toward salar isles
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.400 BCE–400 CE
Initial construction
2020
Drone/UAV high-resolution mapping and heritage inventory
On the ground
Structures & features
22.9700° S · 68.9200° W · 2320 m · 3 mapped features
Loma Stepped Pyramid (28 m)
geoglyph28-m stepped pyramid figure
22.9690° S · 68.9190° WLoma Comb (35 m)
geoglyph35-m comb motif
22.9710° S · 68.9210° WLoma Camelid (14 m)
geoglyph14-m camelid
22.9690° S · 68.9190° W