Solcor-3. A five-century sequence in the periodification of agropottery in San Pedro de Atacama

The Solcor-3 archaeological cemetery is one of few systematically excavated sites in San Pedro de Atacama where cultural contexts and complete human remains have been recovered. As such, numerous authors have studied specific aspects of the site or compared it to other sites. Given that there has not yet been a detailed review of the site, we believe a thorough evaluation of its context to be important.The Association of pottery typologies revealed three phases for the site (Sequitor, Quitor, and Coyo) spanning five centuries of continuous development in the area. The possession of metal objects, particularly during the Coyo phase, sets this community apart as elite among Atacamenan societies. Tiwanaku manifestations are the most common, appearing initially in the Quitor phase and proliferating in the Coyo phase. The quantity and heterogeneity of foreign goods suggest the community was part of a circumpuna network stretching from Tiwanaku in the north to Aguada territories in the south. This article discusses the bioanthropological and social structure of the population.

Automated summary

The Solcor-3 archaeological cemetery in San Pedro de Atacama is an important site that has been thoroughly evaluated in terms of pottery and metal typologies as well as social structure.