List of Muisca and pre-Muisca sites

Last updated

Altiplano Cundiboyacense (subdivisions).png
White pog.svg
A
White pog.svg
Ti
White pog.svg
Su
White pog.svg
Te
Lightgreen pog.svg
C
Lightgreen pog.svg
Ag
White pog.svg
Sa
Lightgreen pog.svg
H
Yellow pog.svg
I
Yellow pog.svg
ST
Yellow pog.svg
CZ
Important pre-Muisca sites on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense
White pog.svg Rock shelters
Lightgreen pog.svg Open area settlements
Yellow pog.svg Constructed sites
A - El Abra
Ti - Tibitó
Su - Sueva
Te - Tequendama
C - Checua/Nemocón
Ag - Aguazuque
Sa - Sáchica
H - Lake Herrera
I - El Infiernito
ST - Sun Temple
CZ - Cojines del Zaque

This is a list of Muisca and pre-Muisca archaeological sites; sites on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, where archaeological evidence has been discovered of the Muisca and their ancestors of the Herrera, preceramic and prehistorical periods.

Contents

Over the course of the centuries and mainly in the 21st century, many sites with evidences of Muisca and pre-Muisca presence have been found and reported. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

The possibly oldest evidence of human settlement in the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes has been discovered just west of the former Muisca territories, at Pubenza in Tocaima, Cundinamarca. Eight stone tools have been found with bone remains, consisting of among others Haplomastodon and turtles, which have been dated at 16,400 ± 420 years BP. Due to the location at an inundated platform, it is unclear if the bones and thus age were in situ . [6]

Background

StageStart ageEnd age
Prehistory
10,000
Preceramic
10,000
2800
Herrera
2800
1200
Muisca
1200
479
Colonial period
479
206
Colombia
206

The Altiplano Cundiboyacense, with its valleys of Sogamoso-Duitama, Tunja and Ubaté-Chiquinquirá and the southeastern flatlands of the Bogotá savanna, as well as the Tenza Valley to the east, was inhabited for 12,000 years by indigenous peoples. At the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, the area of approximately 25,000 square kilometres (9,700 sq mi) was populated by the Muisca, organised in a loose confederation; the Muisca Confederation.

While various classifications of the archaeological history of the Andean high plateau exist, [7] the most commonly accepted sequence, in years BP, is shown to the right.

Timeline of inhabitation

Timeline of inhabitation of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, Colombia
TequendamaAguazuquePiedras del Tunjo Archaeological ParkGalindo, BojacáBD BacatáLake HerreraChía (Cundinamarca)ZipaquiráEl AbraChecuaTibitóSuevaEl InfiernitoHistory of ColombiaSpanish EmpireSpanish conquest of the MuiscaMuisca peopleHerrera PeriodMuisca Confederation#PrehistoryBochicaMuisca mummificationCeramicAndean preceramicMuisca agricultureHunter-gathererList of Muisca and pre-Muisca sites
Altiplano Cundiboyacense.png


ConfederacionMuisca.png


Altiplano Cundiboyacense (subdivisions).png

List of Muisca and pre-Muisca sites

Site nameImage Municipality Department StartEndOldest date
years BP
FindsNotesMap
El Abra
Alb.jpg
Zipaquirá Cundinamarca Prehistory Herrera 12,560 Rock art
Stone tools
[1]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Zipaquira.svg
Tibitó Tocancipá CundinamarcaPrehistoryHerrera11,850Stone & bone tools
Carbon
[1]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Tocancipa.svg
Sueva Junín CundinamarcaPrehistoryHerrera11,180Rock shelter [1]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Junin.svg
Tequendama Soacha CundinamarcaPrehistory Spanish conquest 11,120Stone tools
Domestication of guinea pigs
[1]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Soacha.svg
Piedras del Tunjo
Facatativa - Piedras del Tunjo.JPG
Facatativá CundinamarcaPrehistory or
Preceramic
MuiscaunknownRock art
Stone tools
[3]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Facatativa.svg
Galindo Bojacá CundinamarcaPreceramicHerrera8800Open area settlement [1]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Bojaca.svg
Checua Nemocón CundinamarcaPreceramicHerrera8500 Stone tools [1] [8]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Nemocon.svg
Nemocón CundinamarcaPreceramic7630Rock shelter
Main salt producing town
[1]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Nemocon.svg
Piedra del Indio
Chía I-VIII
Moon Temple
Chía CundinamarcaPreceramic5140Rock art
Burial site
Religious place
[1] [9]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Chia.svg
Zipaquirá CundinamarcaPreceramic5140 Main salt producing town [1] [10]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Zipaquira.svg
Aguazuque Soacha CundinamarcaPreceramicHerrera4065 Stone tools
Burial grounds
Human remains
Guinea pigs, deer
[1] [11]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Soacha.svg
Lake Herrera Madrid
Mosquera
Bojacá
CundinamarcaPreceramicHerrera3410Stone tools
Ceramics
[12]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Madrid.svg
SO10-IX
Muisca mummy - Museo del Oro, Bogota.jpg
Sativanorte BoyacáPreceramicPreceramic3386 Muisca mummy [13]
Colombia - Boyaca - Sativanorte.svg
Zipacón CundinamarcaPreceramic3270Rock shelter
Rock art
Oldest agriculture
[1]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Zipacon.svg
El Infiernito
Villa de Leyva el infiernito.jpg
Villa de Leyva BoyacáPreceramicMuisca2975 Archaeoastronomical site
Muisca mummy
[14] [15]
Colombia - Boyaca - Villa de Leyva.svg
Muisca raft - detail - Museo del Oro, Bogota.jpg
Pasca CundinamarcaHerrera1400 Muisca raft [16]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Pasca.svg
Buenavista BoyacáHerrera1396Nose piece and pectoral
dated at 620 & 990 AD
[17]
Colombia - Boyaca - Buenavista.svg
Suesca CundinamarcaMuisca150 Muisca mummies
Petrographs
Ceramics
[2] [3] [4]
[5] [14]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Suesca.svg
Gachantivá Boyacá Muisca Muisca mummy
Muisca copper mines
[18] [19] [14]
Colombia - Boyaca - Gachantiva.svg
Gachancipá CundinamarcaMuiscaMuisca mummy [14]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Gachancipa.svg
Ubaté CundinamarcaMuiscaMuisca mummy [14]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Ubate.svg
BICOLOR.jpg
Tenjo CundinamarcaMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Tenjo.svg
Piedra del diablo pictografia cumaca.JPG
Tibacuy CundinamarcaMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Tibacuy.svg
Jeroglificos Berbeo 02.JPG
Berbeo Boyacá MuiscaPetroglyphs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Boyaca - Berbeo.svg
Sachica rupestre.JPG
Sáchica BoyacáMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Boyaca - Sachica.svg
Ocetá Páramo
Muisca Petroglyphs - Paramo de Oceta.jpg
Monguí BoyacáMuiscaPetroglyphs
Birth sites
Myths
[20]
Colombia - Boyaca - Mongui.svg
Payará Tausa Cundinamarca [21]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Tausa.svg
Choachí CundinamarcaMuisca Choachí Stone [22]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Choachi.svg
La Calera CundinamarcaMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - La Calera.svg
Chipaque CundinamarcaMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Chipaque.svg
Cogua CundinamarcaMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Cogua.svg
Cota CundinamarcaMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Cota.svg
Cucunubá CundinamarcaMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Cucunuba.svg
Guachetá CundinamarcaMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Guacheta.svg
Guasca CundinamarcaMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Guasca.svg
Guatavita CundinamarcaMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Guatavita.svg
Machetá CundinamarcaMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Macheta.svg
Madrid CundinamarcaMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Madrid.svg
Mosquera CundinamarcaMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Mosquera.svg
San Antonio
del Tequendama
CundinamarcaMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - San Antonio del Tequendama.svg
San Francisco CundinamarcaMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - San Francisco.svg
Sibaté CundinamarcaMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Sibate.svg
Subachoque CundinamarcaMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Subachoque.svg
Tena CundinamarcaMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Tena.svg
Tibiritá CundinamarcaMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Tibirita.svg
Tocancipá CundinamarcaMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Tocancipa.svg
Une CundinamarcaMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Cundinamarca - Une.svg
Bosa CundinamarcaMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Bogota - Bosa.svg
Usme CundinamarcaMuiscaMuisca mummy
Petrographs
[2] [3] [4]
[5] [14]
Bogota - Usme.svg
Boavita BoyacáMuiscaMuisca mummy [14]
Colombia - Boyaca - Boavita.svg
Tasco BoyacáMuiscaMuisca mummy [14]
Colombia - Boyaca - Tasco.svg
Tópaga BoyacáMuiscaMuisca mummy [14]
Colombia - Boyaca - Topaga.svg
Gámeza BoyacáMuiscaMuisca mummy
Petrographs
[2] [3] [4]
[5] [14]
Colombia - Boyaca - Gameza.svg
Belén BoyacáMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Boyaca - Belen.svg
Iza BoyacáMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Boyaca - Iza.svg
Mongua BoyacáMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Boyaca - Mongua.svg
Motavita BoyacáMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Boyaca - Motavita.svg
Ramiriquí BoyacáMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Boyaca - Ramiriqui.svg
Saboyá BoyacáMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Boyaca - Saboya.svg
Tibaná BoyacáMuiscaPetrographs [2] [3] [4] [5]
Colombia - Boyaca - Tibana.svg
Sutamarchán BoyacáMuisca Muisca ceramics production [19]
Colombia - Boyaca - Sutamarchan.svg
Tinjacá BoyacáMuisca Muisca ceramics production [19]
Colombia - Boyaca - Tinjaca.svg
Sun Temple
Templo del sol.jpg
Sogamoso BoyacáMuiscaSeptember 1537Most important Muisca temple [23]
Colombia - Boyaca - Sogamoso.svg
Cojines del Zaque
Cojines del Zaque. Vista actual (2015).JPG
TunjaBoyacáMuisca Early colonial Religious place [24]
Colombia - Boyaca - Tunja.svg
Hunzahúa Well Tunja Boyacá MuiscaEarly colonial Mythological place [25]
Colombia - Boyaca - Tunja.svg
Goranchacha Temple TunjaBoyacáMuiscaEarly colonialTemple of Goranchacha [26]
Colombia - Boyaca - Tunja.svg

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 (in Spanish) Caracterización de los sitios arqueológicos Sabana de Bogotá - ICANH
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Muñoz Castiblanco, 2006, p.10
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Martínez & Botiva, 2004a
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 López Estupiñán, 2011
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Martínez & Botiva, 2004b, p.15
  6. Aceituno & Rojas, 2012, p.128
  7. N.N., s.a.
  8. Groot de Mahecha, 1992, p.7
  9. Muñoz Castiblanco, 2013
  10. Groot de Mahecha, 2008
  11. Correal Urrego, 1990
  12. (in Spanish) Colombia Prehispánica - V. La Altiplanicie Cundiboyacense
  13. Martínez et al., 2010
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Valverde, 2007, p.280
  15. Silva Celis, 1981, p.12
  16. (in Spanish) Official website Pasca
  17. (in Spanish) Official website Buenavista Archived 2015-06-02 at archive.today
  18. Martínez & Martínez, 2012
  19. 1 2 3 Ocampo López, 2007
  20. (in Spanish) Objeciones del páramo más lindo del mundo - Universidad Sergio Arboleda
  21. Groot de Mahecha, 1992, p.5
  22. Izquierdo Peña, 2009, p.87
  23. (in Spanish) Temple of the Sun - Sogamoso - Pueblos Originarios
  24. (in Spanish) Archaeology of the Cojines del Zaque Archived 2016-06-02 at the Wayback Machine - Banco de la República
  25. (in Spanish) Hunzahúa Well - Pueblos Originarios
  26. (in Spanish) Goranchacha - Pueblos Originarios

Bibliography

Further reading