Detail of geoglyphs at Cerro Pintados , Region I , Chile

Cerro Pintados is the largest collection of geogplyphs in South America, with over 450 figures spread along 4km of hillside. The site is 94km south of Iquique not far from the Pan American Highway Ruta 5. It is thought they were made between 700 and 1500AD. The figures are of animals, humans and a wide variety of geometic shapes; it is thought they may have been made to provide information for llama caravans and / or have a ceremonial purpose. The damage on this section of hillside was possibly caused by informal mining prospectors.