In Chile’s Atacama Desert, off-road racing is wreaking havoc on ancient Indigenous artwork.
Sourced image: Instagram / @fundacion_desierto_atacama
Geoglyphs carved into the desert slopes 3,000 years ago are being damaged by tire tracks from motorcycles, jeeps, and other all-terrain vehicles.
Drone footage released by archaeologist Gonzálo Pimentel revealed the extent of the destruction.
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“When we saw the drone footage, we couldn’t believe it,” Pimentel told The New York Times, noting that several key figures were now barely recognisable, and that the damage is irreversible.
The damage affects both the cultural heritage and local economy. Luis Araya, a Tarapacá resident, said over 30 families rely on income from guiding archaeological tours of Alto Barranco.
While rally organisers deny responsibility, claiming adherence to approved routes, regional officials argue that lack of post-race GPS data hinders their ability to assess the impact.
Marcela Sepúlveda, president of the Chilean Society of Archaeology, said, “The geoglyphs are gigantic. No one can claim they didn’t see them.”
As protective measures are now being explored, the irreversible damage to what Pimentel calls “the desert’s history book” continues to mount.
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