Territorio, etnicidade e ritualidade afrodescendente. A cruz de maio no Vale De Azapa, Norte Do Chile

The goal of this paper is to analyze the presence of crosses on the slopes of the Azapa Valley, on the northern border of Chile, and its connection with the territorial, ethnic, and ceremonial construction of the Afro-descendant population. The methodology included the use of the following information-gathering techniques: Cadastral characterization, ethnographic techniques (observation and interviews), registration of geo-referential information, and images. After evidencing the distinct presence of Cruces de Mayo (May Crosses) associated with Afro-descendant families and groups in Azapa, it is shown that both the spatial location and the celebration around these religious-cultural artifacts are critical to the territorial and ethnic re-appropriation of this population.