El Molle culture was a South American archaeological culture from in the Transverse Valleys of Norte Chico known chiefly for its ceramics.
[3] It is possible that Las Ánimas culture learned copper metallurgy from El Molle.
[3] In 1954 Grete Mostny postulated the idea of a link between Mapuches of south-central Chile and the El Molle culture.
[5] Various archaeologists including Grete Mostny are of the idea that El Molle culture is in turn related to cultures of the Argentine Northwest, chiefly Candelaria, which are in turn suggested to be related to more northern "tropical jungle" cultures.
[5][6] Tembetás, lower lip piercings usually associated with indigenous cultures of Brazil, findings have been reported in Central Chile with some scholars differing if these elements the result of migrations or non-migratory contacts with the Argentine Northwest.