Main Ancient Cultures of Colombia

In the pre-Columbian era, years prior to the arrival of the conquistadors in our territory, civilizations formed by groups of indigenous people existed. These were very organized socially and politically.

The Taironas

The habitat of the Taironas was located in the northern zone of the country, in the department of Magdalena, in the Sierra Nevada and in La Guajira. Their cities were formed by stone roads; their houses were circular with palm roofs and these cities were hierarchically organized by a cacique, priest, warriors, merchants, artisans, and farmers.

Their economic activity was based on fishing and agriculture with crops of pineapple, avocado, soursop, and corn. They were also goldsmiths, using lost wax and tumbaga, and performed work in clay and ceramics.

The Quimbayas

Their habitat was located in Quindío. They dominated the mineral trade, handling bartering very well. They were excellent artisans and goldsmiths, using guadua and lost wax. Similarly, they were hunters and farmers of corn, beans, cassava, arracacha, guamas, guavas, avocados, and fique.

San Agustín and Tierradentro

These are some of the oldest cultures; they ceased to exist 600 years before the arrival of the Spanish. They were experts in monumental sculpture. It is not known what purpose they built all these works for, although they performed funeral rites and it is said that they reached a high level of development and complex thinking.

The Zenúes

They inhabited the departments of Sucre and Córdoba. They had a hierarchical organization; their three caciques were: the cacique of Panzenú, the one of Zenufana, and the great Cacica of Finzenú. The Zenúes were artisans who made hats, loincloths, blankets, backpacks, baskets, and hammocks. They dug canals to drain water and irrigate their crops, in addition to opening roads between their cities.

The Muiscas

They were located in the Cundiboyacense highlands. Their hierarchical organization was based on chieftainships: the Zipa of Bacatá and the Zaque of Hunza. They were farmers of potatoes, sweet potatoes, calabazas, coca, chili peppers, and cotton. They were the creators of turmequé (weaving). The legend of «El Dorado» came from them. In their economy, they dominated emerald, copper, coal, and salt mining.

Calima Culture

Group of indigenous people who developed along the Calima River in Colombia. Their houses were made of wood, palm, and mud. They had social hierarchies with the caciques as the head. They cultivated cassava, tobacco, sweet potatoes, calabazas, and yams, but they were more prominent as great hunters and gatherers. They used goldsmithing, metallurgy, and made ceramic elements that they used for bartering.