The temple of Tulan-54: early formative ceremonial architecture in the Atacama Desert

Abstract

Unique among its kind in the Atacama Desert, the temple of Tulan-54 is a key site of the Early Formative period. Evidence of ceremonies and ritual activities, such as feasts and offerings, demonstrates that Tulan-54 was the scene of important cultural and economic transformation, from hunter-gatherers to early pastoralist communities. Recent investigations have provided new data that enriches and challenges interpretations of the site, the association of its ceremonial architecture with its material culture, and its carved motifs and inhumations. This evidence expands our understanding of the social and cultural complexity of Chilean Early Formative societies at both a local and regional scale.