To live in Cobija: Prevalence of the coastal way of life in Atacama

Abstract

Using the results of an ethnography and the analysis of bibliographic sources, this article presents a mainly descriptive study of the way of life of an inhabitant of the desert coast who practices hunting and gathering within a free-market trading logic. This opens a reflection about the link with traditional societies, through the idea of long-term cultural heritages. The study was conducted in the coastal town of Cobija, in the region of Antofagasta, which by being historically contextualized shows the prevalence of the ways of life of the coastal desert.