Discoveries, nations, and archaeological explorations: The scientific colonization of Tarapacá, Atacama desert.

This article examines the 1963 "discovery" of the archaeological site of Guatacondo in Chile’s Atacama Desert to explore how archaeology in the region emerged at the intersection of colonial expansion, capitalist modernization, and scientific practice. It highlights the roles of diverse actors—including mining engineers, European intellectuals, and state institutions—in shaping archaeological knowledge within broader geopolitical and ideological frameworks tied to nation-building and resource extraction. The study traces the historical entanglement of archaeology with mining enterprises, museum operations, and international scientific networks, emphasizing how the Atacama was constructed both as a site of national heritage and as a frontier for capitalist exploitation. This analysis underscores the political nature of archaeological practice in northern Chile and its ongoing legacies in the production of knowledge and territorial control.