Origins of the Burial Traditions in the Ancient Cultures on the Pacific Coast of South America

Ancient burial complexes along the Pacific coast of South America, spanning territories now part of Ecuador, Peru, and Chile, reveal sophisticated ritual practices dating back to the Archaic period (10-3,500 BP). These complexes, found in settlements, ritual centers, necropolises, caves, and shell mounds, demonstrate meticulous treatment of the dead through natural and artificial mummification techniques—such as the Chinchorro tradition—and the use of primary and secondary burial methods. The findings also highlight early social interactions, including exchange contacts and conflicts with neighboring groups, alongside subsistence activities like fishing, hunting, and gathering. These practices persisted into later Formative period cultures and pre-contact times, underscoring their enduring cultural significance.

A., T., & T., G. (2017). Origins of the Burial Traditions in the Ancient Cultures on the Pacific Coast of South America. Teoriya I Praktika Arkheologicheskikh Issledovaniy, (1), 167–180. https://doi.org/10.14258/tpai(2017)1(17).-12