Rock Art Research

The paper presents the findings of field research undertaken in the Arica Precordillera region at the sites of Tangani, studied by Hans Niemeyer in the late 1960s. Surveying activities led to the identification of more sites than were previously recognised, indicating intensive use of the area from the Archaic period to the recent past. Paintings from fourteen sites were analysed in regard to attributes such as the number of figures present, colours used, composition and rock support employed. The findings obtained invite a revision of the previously defined ‘Sierra de Arica style’, because the authors recognise a greater stylistic variability between the Late Archaic period (4000–2000 BCE) and Regional Development period (1000–1350 CE). Following this, possible interpretations of the different
styles identified are discussed in relation to the particular socio-cultural processes occurring during each period.