A man buried in Chile in the Ancient South America era

The Conchalí area, situated in modern-day Chile, would have been influenced by a tapestry of pre-Columbian cultures approximately 700 years ago, around the early 14th century. This era was marked by the expansion and influence of several Andean civilizations, including the burgeoning Inca Empire, although direct control might have been variable as the Inca expansion was still underway.

Geographical Setting

Conchalí, now a part of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, is located in a valley surrounded by the coastal mountain range to the west and the Andes to the east. This region's geography provided a strategic location for trade and cultural exchanges due to its position between the mountains and the ocean. The climate would have been similar to today: temperate with a Mediterranean-like weather pattern, conducive to agriculture and settlement.

Cultural Influences

In the 14th century, the cultural landscape was dominated by indigenous groups prior to full Inca integration. The Inca Empire, under rulers like Pachacuti and his successors, was beginning its expansion southward from the Andean highlands, but full integration of the Chilean territories would have occurred later. However, the influence of the Incas was felt through trade, warfare, and diplomacy.

Agriculture and Economy

The inhabitants of Conchalí in this era would have practiced a form of agriculture adapted to their environment, growing crops such as maize, potatoes, and beans. The region's fertile lands and river systems enabled irrigation techniques that supported agriculture. Additionally, the presence of llamas and alpacas would have facilitated not only transport but also trade with neighboring regions.

Trade routes were crucial, connecting Conchalí to the wider Andean trade networks. Goods such as textiles, ceramics, and metals would have been exchanged extensively. This trade network also helped disseminate Incan cultural influences even before political conquest.

Society and Governance

Societies in the Conchalí area were likely organized into small chiefdoms or ayllus, which is a kin-based community. These ayllus were an essential part of the broader Andean social structure, characterized by reciprocity and communal labor. Leadership within these groups was probably hereditary, with chiefs overseeing agricultural and religious activities.

Social organization would have been hierarchical but communal, with decision-making often involving community consensus, especially concerning agricultural practices and resource distribution. The distant presence of the Inca Empire may have started influencing local governance, skewing it toward more centralized control.

Religion and Cosmology

Religion and spirituality played a central role in daily life. The Andean people, including those in Conchalí, practiced a form of animism, believing in a pantheon of deities connected to natural elements like the sun, moon, earth, and water. They conducted rituals and ceremonies to honor these deities, often involving offerings of chicha (a fermented beverage), food, and animal sacrifices.

Sun worship was particularly significant, and the construction of ceremonial sites aligned with astronomical events indicates their sophisticated understanding of seasonal changes and celestial movements.

Art and Craftsmanship

Art and craftsmanship flourished, with pottery, weaving, and metalwork being prominent. Textiles were especially significant, with complex patterns and vibrant colors used to denote status and identity within communities. Pottery often featured geometric designs and was used for both practical storage and ceremonial purposes.

The introduction of Incan artistic styles began to merge with local traditions, creating a syncretic art form. Metalworking, particularly in copper and bronze, was a developing skill, with evidence suggesting the production of tools, jewelry, and ceremonial objects.

Conclusion

Conchalí, 700 years ago, was a region richly endowed with cultural diversity and natural resources, poised on the brink of significant transformation due to the expanding Incan influence. The people of this area were adept agriculturalists and traders, deeply spiritual, and skilled artisans. Their strategic geographic location facilitated a confluence of cultural influences that would eventually be absorbed into the larger Incan tapestry, yet retaining a unique identity shaped by their distinct history and environment.