Toconao oriente: Referente en la periodificación agroalfarera de San Pedro de Atacama

Abstract

Toconao Oriente is an archaeological cemetery located in the modern town of Toconao, on the edge of the Salar de Atacama (Antofagasta Region), approximately 40 km from San Pedro de Atacama. Tarragó (1968, 1989) employed this cemetery as a type site in defining the early Agro-ceramic period of San Pedro de Atacama; however, to date only partial analyses have been conducted and there is no detailed and comprehensive review of the site. Consequently, we have considered it important to conduct a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the mortuary contexts in order to provide more information concerning a site that is considered to be a fundamental reference in our understanding of Agro-ceramic period San Pedro Atacama. Correlating and linking information from the funerary contexts has facilitated the creation of four groups according to typological synchrony and divergence, which in turn are compared to the phases defined in the San Pedro de Atacama periodization. This has established that Toconao Oriente is a site representing several periods including the Toconao, Séquitor, Quitor, and Coyo phases. Moreover, it was possible to use these data to define and characterize the Toconao phase with more detail and certainty.