- A series of ancient desert artworks up to 3,000 years old are being destroyed by off-road enthusiasts driving over them
- Preservationists trying to protect the geoglyphs of the Atacama Desert in Chile say not enough is being done to maintain the site
- Authorities reportedly face difficulties in prosecution because they can’t tie specific damage to particular vandals
Ancient art carved into a Chilean desert by a lost civilization as long as 3,000 years ago risks destruction beneath the tires of off-roading enthusiasts, mining trucks, and rally vehicles, according to preservationists in the region, who say their local government must do more to protect the relics.
The geoglyphs in the Atacama Desert, at Alto Barranco in the far north of Chile, were dug into the surface there by its indigenous population some millennia ago, but have remained intact as a result of the region’s unique climate, which sees almost no rain or precipitation, reports The New York Times. Some examples of the incredible art span over 100 feet – they were thought to be used as navigational aids, and generally depict geometric patterns or local wildlife – and are clearly marked off on maps and via signs to make it clear getting too close to them is prohibited by law.
But that hasn’t stopped hundreds of off-roading enthusiasts from crisscrossing directly over the historic artworks every year, says the Atacama Desert Foundation, a local preservation authority, as evidenced by a vast network of tire tracks all across the desert, made particularly visible via drone. While some of the geoglyphs are only lightly marred by the trespassers, others have been almost completely erased.
Archaeologists at the Foundation say all sorts of vehicles are responsible for the damage, from rented motorcycles to mining trucks, as well as dozens of privately owned sport-utility and enthusiast vehicles. An event called the Atacama Rally even brought rally racers not far from the area in 2022, but has said it denies any responsibility for the geoglyphs’ destruction. “However, one regional official noted that they were unable to check racers’ GPS tracks after the race to see if riders followed approved routes,” reported The Smithsonian Magazine in its coverage.
“This behaviour has been formally reported to the Prosecutor’s Office since 2021,” said Luis Pérez Reyes, director at the Regional Museum of Iquique, the regional capital of Tarapacá, in a statement translated by Richard Whiddington or Artnet. “It’s very serious; this damage is irreversible—it cannot be restored.”
While people caught damaging archaeological sites like the geoglyphs of the Atacama Desert can be fined up to US$14,500 (CDN$19,500) and face more than five years in prison, the government there rarely prosecute such crimes, say preservationists. This is reportedly in part because it’s difficult for authorities to prove a particular vehicle or driver left specific marks behind. That’s why groups like the Atacama Desert Foundation are instead trying to raise awareness about the issue. “It’s a tragedy,” said Pérez Reyes, describing the damage as “a museum of ‘never again.’”
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