Chile’s mining activity has also birthed smithing and metal handicrafts. The Mapuches use silver to create accessories for their typical costume: the trarilonco, worn around the head, and the trapelacucha, which is pinned to the chest, are pieces that usually represent the condor, a bird that is sacred to the culture of the “People of the Earth” – the meaning of the word “mapuche.” For the Mapuche women, silver jewelry has a religious meaning and protects them from evil spirits.
