Archaeology of Chile’s Atacama Desert

Flanked by the towering Andes to the east and the wild Pacific Ocean to the west, the impossibly dry Atacama Desert is the spectacular result of this unique geography.  Despite its aridity, the Atacama region was first occupied by humans over 10,000 years ago and this hyper arid environment has subsequently allowed for the preservation of materials that most archaeologists can only dream of.

In this episode we are joined by Dr Chris Carter to discuss what can be found in the region, from the scant remains of the early camps to the oldest artificial mummies in the world. Chris' PhD research was based on excavations he carried out in northern Chile at coastal sites of the Desert. He has continued to work in this region since the late 1990s and has contributed to Chile's proposal to have the Inka trails included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

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