Fill out your data to get our latest news and publications








    The pre-Columbian era

    The Chibchas are the first population that inhabited what we know today as Colombia in the fifth century BC.

    The pre-Columbian era began in the fifth century BC through the Isthmus of Panama, when the first settlers reached the Colombian territory: the Chibcha family. Over time, due to great differences in their idiosyncrasies, the group was divided into the Caribes, the Arawaks, and the Muiscas, which were relatively small tribes that left important cultural legacies.

    With vast cultural and technological development, the Muiscas settled in the central region of the country. They were farmers, weavers, miners, and goldsmiths. “El Dorado” myth, of Muisca origin, is part of the ceremony in which a new chief (cacique), bathed in gold and was taken to the center of the Guatavita lake.

    Another family that is part of Colombia’s pre-Columbian history is the Arawak family, located in Guajira and Caquetá. Their activities involved in cattle raising, agriculture, fishing, and hunting. The Caribe family engaged in similar trades, but it was warmongering and did not leave evidence of any significant cultural development. Polytheism was a common trait among these populations.

    During pre-Columbian times in Colombia, about twelve different cultures settled in the Colombian territory before the Conquest, including the Quimbaya, Sinú, Tayrona, and Calima, who were also pottery and goldsmithing experts.

     

    Places to experience the pre-Columbian culture firsthand in Colombia.

    Bogotá houses the Gold Museum, with the largest pre-Hispanic goldsmith collection in the world. Located in the historic center of the capital, this emblematic site represents an unparalleled opportunity to relive the history of the Americas.

    Pre-Columbian cultural pieces can also be found in the Archaeological Museum Casa del Marqués de San Jorge and the National Museum in Bogotá, the Quimbaya Culture Museum in Armenia, the Tayrona Culture Museum in Santa Marta, and the Sinú Culture Museum in Cartagena.

    The San Agustín Archaeological Park in the department of Huila portrays imposing representations of beasts, animals, and gods of the culture that inhabited the region between the first and eighth centuries. Declared a World Heritage Site, the park contains the largest graveyard in the continent and the largest collection of monuments and megalithic structures in South America.

    The Lost City is a beautiful place nestled in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the highest coastal mountain range in the world. It was built around the year 700, and its 250 terraces are the main archaeological site of the area.

     

    Learn more about our history and discover #TheBestOfColombia

    5/5 - (12 votes)
    Artículos recomendados

    Colombia’s National Navy turns 190 years old

    Lake Maracaibo’s Naval Battle of 1823 was essential for independence in the Americas. That is when the Navy’s glorious history...
    San Agustin, Archaeological Park, Colombian parks, Pre-columbian art, Art

    San Agustin and Isnos: The keys to Colombia's past

    Colombia is home to the largest collection of religious monuments and megalithic sculptures in all of South America and they...
    Cartagena’s city in Colombia country – Cartagena's balconies in Colombia country | Colombia Country Brand

    Discover the difference between Colombia the country and Columbia

    It’s normal to hear about Columbia when you’re talking about Colombia the country and all about it. But the truth...
    La llorona, Myths and Legends

    Colombia's Myths and Legends

    Colombia is full of magic and mystery and there is barely a village in the country that does not boast...
    parque del café, coffee zone, coffee triangle, cultural landscape, tren, paisaje cafetero, coffee, coffee cultural landscape

    Six parks you have to visit in Colombia’s world famous Coffee Cultural Landscape

    Colombian coffee is the world’s favorite, beloved for its flavor, scent and strength. Every coffee lover should take a trip...
    Colombian contemporary art, contemporary art, art, artists, culture

    What do you know about Colombian contemporary art?

    Artists such as Doris Salcedo and Óscar Murillo have showed Colombian art in the world’s most important galleries. 

    How to get around Colombia

    Colombia is a beautiful country with some of the world’s most diverse terrain, from bustling cities and mountain villages to...
    Colombian food

    Six Weird Food Combinations from Colombia You Will Love

    Colombians are proud of their cuisine and keen for visitors to try a bit of everything, which can mean tasting...
    Medellín, the City of the Eternal Spring | Colombia Country Brand

    Medellín in 48 Hours

    There are many things to do in Medellín. Its weather, its adjoining villages, its people's warm and its nightlife make...
    street art Bogotá

    A tour of Bogotá’s world famous graffiti art

    Bogotá is the “Athens of Latin America” rich in museums and art galleries, universities, theaters and libraries and, when it...