TRAMAS EN LA PIEDRA Arte Rupestre en el paisaje: contextos de uso del arte rupestre en el Valle de Lluta, Norte de Chile, períodos Intermedio Tardío y Tardío Daniela Valenzuela, Luis Briones y Calogero Santoro RESUMEN Se examinan diferentes contextos de uso de sitios de arte rupestre –geoglifos y petroglifos– ubicados en la zona baja valle de Lluta desde la costa hasta 80 km en el interior, de los períodos Intermedio Tardío y Tardío (ca. 1100-1550 d.C.). A partir de un análisis espacial que considera condiciones de emplazamiento, las carac- terísticas del entorno natural y los rasgos arqueológicos asociados, se concluye que el arte rupestre fue utiliza- do en distintas actividades sociales, que incluyen el tráfico caravanero, el uso en espacios exclusivamente sagrados, en actividades domésticas y enclaves de uso múltiple. En dichos contextos estas expresiones iconográficas actuaron a través de la sacralización de espacios sociales, relacionados con las condiciones socia- les, políticas y económicas de las poblaciones locales del Intermedio Tardío y que sufrieron alteraciones como consecuencia de la conquista incaica. Palabras clave: arte rupestre - paisaje - contextos de uso - sacralización de espacios sociales - desierto de Atacama. ABSTRACT We analyse the contextual use of several rock art sites –geoglyphs (big figures of the slope of the hills by means of accumulation of dark stones) and petroglyphs (engraving on rocks)– located in the lower section of the Lluta valley, from the coast up to 80 km inland, in northernmost Chile, Atacama Desert, in the South- Central Andes. This rock art belongs to the pre-Inka Late Intermediate period and the Late Inka period (ca. A.D. 1100-1550). Base on landscape analysis that considers the placement, accessibility, visibility, the sur- rounding natural conditions, and associated archaeological cultural features we conclude that the icono- graphic particularities are linked to different contexts of social activities, and to the construction of sacred landscape. These analytical variables were searched to distinguish regularities and patterns of spatial place- ments, considering that these features should reflect behavioral patterns derived from different social contexts for rock art production and associate performance. The social contexts included caravan, domestic, ceremo- nial, and multiple functional activities, framed by the local social, political, and economic structure of the Late Intermediate period, and its subsequent transformation under the Inka regime. We studied 29 sites (17 geoglyphs and 12 petroglyphs). From this total seventeen sites with geoglyphs and three with petroglyphs are associated to caravan activities, and show differences among them. The geoglyphs are highly visible and monumental, and they are located on transient places. In this way, they can be seen from the outside of the local settlements. The geoglyphs are also localized far away from the productive, habitation and funerary areas. In particular the geoglyphs are commonly found in rather public spaces and directly linked to trails, with an east west axis, connected to regional and interregional exchange networks. These trails were used for llama caravans of highland people that pursue the access to coastal resources (guano, dry fish, shell, starfish, etc.). In contrast, the petroglyphs linked to caravan trails show low monumen- tality and visibility, and they are located on marginal areas nearby domestic and productive domains. Besides, these trails are local, and transverse the Lluta valley. These trails with their associated petroglyphs connect settlements placed at the flood plain of the valley with regional trail networks. Rock art sites in domestic contexts (5 sites with petroglyphs) show very low monumentality and visibility. They are restricted to habitation domains, where normal every day life took place, in a rather intimate social context with no public display. They are very close to high value of productive farming areas and water sources. Ceremonial rock art (1 site) is circumscribed to sacred places far away from domestic and productive prehispanic areas. Besides, its landscape is characterized by restricted access and low visibility. Multifunctional rock art sites (2 sites) articulate productive areas, trails, domestic domains, and they possibly acted as land marks to highlight these different social functions. Their importance is demonstrated by their large size, and high visibility.