Copper production in late prehispanic northern Chile

► We document pre-Inka and Inka period copper production in northern Chile. ► Inhabitants of the Tarapacá Valley used wind-driven furnaces called huayras. ► The Inka reorganized copper production, concentrated at the site of Tarapacá Viejo. ► We provide technical details of smelting and other metallurgical activities. ► New metal-working techniques show links to Inka centers in Chile and Argentina.