Apacheta

Stones shot from near US assembly site, looking towards the Japanese assembly site (and Japanese antenna). This formation is called an ���apacheta": a man-made formation of stones gathered as offerings by indigenous people to the keeper of the roads, placed on special locations, such as the peaks of hills or upon cordillera/mountain paths (openings or crossing points), water sources, or refuge places. There, the indian walkers woud leave a rock, colored wools, coca leaves, strong drinking alcohol or water, as symbolic offerings to the ancestral spirits and to their divinities. They are places for meetings and departures, a demonstration of profound devotion within Andean religiosity.

This work by the OSF of Conservation and Validation of the Cultural Patrimony of the ���apacheta���, is included in the program of the Study of Enviromental Impact undertaken by the Chilean Archaeologist Ana Mar��a Bar��n, in the entire territory covered by the ALMA Project, from its beginnings in 2003, also including the protection of ���The Barrio Estancia���, which today is a Site Museum.