Radiometric evaluation of the prehistoric mortuary practices of the Chinchorro culture in northern Chile

Radiometric dating of Chinchorro mummies reveals that the culture's mortuary practices, including four distinct mummification techniques (red, black, natural, and mud-coated), align with a proposed chronological classification scheme. This supports the notion that Chinchorro cemeteries were reused over time. However, one exception suggests possible social stratification, challenging the idea of an egalitarian society. The study analyzed 16 samples from 15 mummies in Arica, Chile, and compared these with previously published dates to refine our understanding of this pre-ceramic coastal culture's mortuary traditions.

Matthew Ray Doubrava. (2001). Radiometric evaluation of the prehistoric mortuary practices of the Chinchorro culture in northern Chile. University of Nevada, Las Vegas. https://doi.org/10.25669/J8T9-MJQI