The archaeologist Max Uhle studied them in 1919 and concluded that, in the absence of advanced dating methods, they were about 2,000 years old. In 1983 a sort of graveyard was found in the area with another 100 mummies.

The excavations were directed by anthropologist Bernardo Arriaza, the remains were studied at the University of Tarapacá and Carbon 14 dates surprised archaeologists and historians, mummies of an average of 7,000 years.

Therefore, the mummies of Chinchorro are the oldest in the world.