Advances in the Historical Archeology of Osorno, central-southern Chile

Abstract

The occupational history of the province and city of Osorno is documented in the context of pre-Hispanic and colonial intercultural relations of the so-called "upper border", in the southern portion of the Government of Chile. This work presents new results guided by the following objectives: 1) archaeologically characterize the current urban area of Osorno from systematic surveys and 2) describe the archaeological contexts identified in spatial, material and chronological terms. The research discusses the indigenous political-territorial organization in relation to the discontinuous process of urban implantation in the 16th and 18th centuries, emphasizing a reflection on the continuity and change in cultural patterns in the study area.