Geoglyphs in the Andean Central Coast: Combining Digital and Traditional Survey Techniques

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2025: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

In our research, we have identified over 113 geoglyphs in the middle Chillon Valley, located on the Andean Central Coast, with chronological spans ranging from the Formative Period (1800–100 BC) to the Inka Period (AD 1470–1532). This project utilized advanced digital technologies, including Remotely Piloted Airborne Systems (RPAS), to systematically locate and document these geoglyphs. In addition to the geoglyphs, we have uncovered associated ceramic assemblages and complex road systems, which further support the hypothesis that these sites represent carefully constructed and highly ritualized landscapes. The intricate integration of these features suggests that the geoglyphs were not isolated phenomena but part of broader cultural practices, possibly linked to ceremonial activities, pilgrimage routes, or territorial markers within the region. This interdisciplinary approach combining aerial technology with archaeological survey has provided new insights into the cultural and spatial organization of ancient societies on the Central Coast. Further analysis of the ceramics and road networks will contribute to understanding the sociopolitical and religious functions of these geoglyphs within their respective periods.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• SAA 2025: Individual Abstracts

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 53627