In San Pedro de Atacama is a large Archaeological research Institute and Museum Gustavo Le Paige under the leadership of the Catholic University del Norte with a large collection of findings: approximately 450 thousand artifacts and ethnographic objects from the pre-Columbian era of the Atacama culture found in the region.

The Museum is named after its founder, Jesuit missionary father Gustavo Le Paige from Belgium. He has made great efforts to preserve the archaeological heritage of the Atacama region, creating one of the most important archaeological and ethnographic collections in Chile and Latin America. The dream of father Gustavo Le Paige – the construction of the Museum building to accommodate the collected unique archaeological material has come true January 6, 1963. Built the first hexagonal shaped pavilion of the Museum.

Father Gustavo Le Paige not only led the excavations, but also carefully recorded the progress of the excavation of the graves of pre-Columbian culture of the Atacama region, with its 11000-year history - the various elements of the environment that make up each grave. Thus, the Museum appeared his handwritten notes, which constitute the main source of information about the life of people who lived in the area pre-Columbian period. Some of the artifacts were manufactured to perform certain ritual actions, which were used for the inhalation of hallucinogenic substances and tobacco during religious ceremonies. One of the most important Museum exhibits are about 4,000 skulls, innumerable mummies, dress made from llama fiber, clay vessels of various shapes, metal, wicker, products made of wood and bones, very thin handle and a large manufacturing complexity. Knives and spears for hunting, treated with a special method of grinding and treated animal skins.