03:21The Alto Barrancos archaeological complex, located in the Atacama Desert near Iquique, northern Chile, has suffered significant damage, with its ancient geoglyphs erased by vehicle activity, particularly motorcycles.
Footage filmed on Friday from the site shows wheel tracks and deep scratches across the once well-preserved geoglyphs.
Archaeologist Luis Perez Reyes, director of the regional museum of Iquique, confirmed that around 90 percent of the site has faced "irreversible" damage, stating that the geoglyphs, which were engraved on the sand rather than designed with rocks, have been completely destroyed.
Perez Reyes emphasised the severity of the damage, explaining that the delicate nature of the sand-based geoglyphs means they cannot be restored. "The loss is total," he said.
The Atacama Desert Foundation had previously warned that motorcyclists pose a serious threat to the ancient complex, which had been preserved for centuries thanks to the region's semi-arid climate and lack of rainfall. The geoglyphs, created by pre-Hispanic peoples between 1000 and 1540, served as navigational markers for long trade routes in the desert.
This tragic loss highlights the ongoing need for protective measures to preserve fragile archaeological sites in the face of modern activities.
'Loss is total' - Archaeologists report ancient geoglyphs in Chile's Atacama Desert destroyed by vehicles
The Alto Barrancos archaeological complex, located in the Atacama Desert near Iquique, northern Chile, has suffered significant damage, with its ancient geoglyphs erased by vehicle activity, particularly motorcycles.
Footage filmed on Friday from the site shows wheel tracks and deep scratches across the once well-preserved geoglyphs.
Archaeologist Luis Perez Reyes, director of the regional museum of Iquique, confirmed that around 90 percent of the site has faced "irreversible" damage, stating that the geoglyphs, which were engraved on the sand rather than designed with rocks, have been completely destroyed.
Perez Reyes emphasised the severity of the damage, explaining that the delicate nature of the sand-based geoglyphs means they cannot be restored. "The loss is total," he said.
The Atacama Desert Foundation had previously warned that motorcyclists pose a serious threat to the ancient complex, which had been preserved for centuries thanks to the region's semi-arid climate and lack of rainfall. The geoglyphs, created by pre-Hispanic peoples between 1000 and 1540, served as navigational markers for long trade routes in the desert.
This tragic loss highlights the ongoing need for protective measures to preserve fragile archaeological sites in the face of modern activities.
The Alto Barrancos archaeological complex, located in the Atacama Desert near Iquique, northern Chile, has suffered significant damage, with its ancient geoglyphs erased by vehicle activity, particularly motorcycles.
Footage filmed on Friday from the site shows wheel tracks and deep scratches across the once well-preserved geoglyphs.
Archaeologist Luis Perez Reyes, director of the regional museum of Iquique, confirmed that around 90 percent of the site has faced "irreversible" damage, stating that the geoglyphs, which were engraved on the sand rather than designed with rocks, have been completely destroyed.
Perez Reyes emphasised the severity of the damage, explaining that the delicate nature of the sand-based geoglyphs means they cannot be restored. "The loss is total," he said.
The Atacama Desert Foundation had previously warned that motorcyclists pose a serious threat to the ancient complex, which had been preserved for centuries thanks to the region's semi-arid climate and lack of rainfall. The geoglyphs, created by pre-Hispanic peoples between 1000 and 1540, served as navigational markers for long trade routes in the desert.
This tragic loss highlights the ongoing need for protective measures to preserve fragile archaeological sites in the face of modern activities.