El Abra
 Location within Colombia
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| Location | Zipaquirá, Cundinamarca |
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| Region | Altiplano Cundiboyacense, Colombia |
| Coordinates | 5°01′02.49″N 73°57′04.33″W / 5.0173583°N 73.9512028°WCoordinates: 5°01′02.49″N 73°57′04.33″W / 5.0173583°N 73.9512028°W |
| Altitude | 2,570 m (8,432 ft) |
| Type | Rock shelter, petroglyphs |
| History | |
| Abandoned | Herrera Period |
| Periods | Prehistory-Herrera |
| Cultures | Hunter-gatherers |
| Site notes | |
| Archaeologists | Hammen, Correal |
| Public access | Yes |
El Abra is an archaeological excavation site, located in the valley of the same name, east of the city of Zipaquirá, department Cundinamarca, Colombia; on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, at an altitude of 2,570 m. This cave system is one of the first Human settlements in America, used by the Homo sapiens inhabitants of the late Pleistocene epoch.
Contents
Stratigraphy[edit]
The first research in the place was conducted in 1967, and the stratigraphy of lithic instruments, bones and vegetal charcoal with radiocarbon dating established the date of the settlement in 12,400 BCE ± 160 years.
Archaeological research[edit]
In 1960, the Indiana University collaborated in a deeper research. In 1970 the Dutch Foundation for the Advancement of Tropical Research (NWO-WOTRO) discovered four new preceramic sites and the analysis of lacustrine sediments allowed a more accurate understanding of the paleoclimate and flora.
Fúquene stadial[edit]
The Fúquene stadial, named after Lake Fúquene, close to the village, is defined from 15,000 BCE to 12,500 BCE. It is characterized by a cold climate, flora typical of páramo ecosystems, and lithic tools.
Guantivá interstadial[edit]
About 12,500 years ago, a gradual rise of temperature allowed the return of Andean cloud forest and the settlement of many animal species, making hunting easier. Articles of this period are abrienses: flint (tool)s, and chopper cores. While the climate was more benign, the cave system was gradually abandoned.
Tibitó stadial[edit]
The excavations of this period, near Tocancipá at Tibitó, dated 11,400 years BCE, show lithic instruments, bone tools and remains of Pleistocene megafauna, such as mastodons (Haplomastodon and Cuvieronius hyodon), American horse (Equus amerhipuus lasallei), and deer (Odocoileus virginianus) with traces of ritual ceremonies.
El Abra stadial[edit]
Dated 11,000 BCE, it is characterized by a new cooling of the climate, recession of the forests and a last glaciation. From this period the archaeological places of Tequendama Falls in Soacha shows lithic instruments (Tequendamenses tools) with a more smooth manufacture, many of them made with materials brought to this place from the Magdalena River valley, such as quartzite.
Holocene[edit]
Around 10,000 years BCE the last glaciation ended, the Andean forest appeared again. The lithic instruments show a rise in recollecting activities, with rodents and vegetables consumed, and low amounts of large animals hunted. The El Abra caves were abandoned gradually.
Aguazuque[edit]
In Aguazuque, around 5,000 BCE agriculture was established on elevated terraces, grinding stone instruments can be observed in association with itinerant habits. The abriense type instruments disappear.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- Correal Urrego, Gonzalo, 1990: "Evidencias culturales durante el Pleistoceno y Holoceno de Colombia"; Revista de Arqueología Americana, 1:69-89. Instituto Panamericano de Geografía e Historia, México
- Correal Urrego, Gonzalo, 1980: "Estado actual de las investigaciones sobre la etapa lítica en Colombia"; Antropológicas 2:11-30. Colombian Anthropologic Society, Bogotá
- Correal Urrego, Gonzalo, van der Hammen, Thomas and Lerman, J.C., 1970: "Artefactos líticos de abrigos en El Abra, Colombia"; Revista Colombiana de Antropología 14: 9-46
- Hurt, Wesley, van der Hammen, Thomas and Correal Urrego, Gonzalo, 1976: "La ecología y tecnología de los abrigos rocosos en El Abra, Sabana de Bogotá, Colombia"; Boletín de la Sociedad Geográfica Colombiana XXX (109): 1-21. Bogotá
- Van der Hammen, Thomas and González, E., 1963: "Historia de clima y vegetación del Pleistoceno suprior y Holoceno de la Sabana de Bogotá"; Boletín Geológico XI (1-3): 189-266. Bogotá
- Van der Hammen, Thomas and Correal Urrego, Gonzalo, 1978: "Prehistoric man on the Sabana de Bogota: data for an ecologiacal prehistory"; Paleography, Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology 25:179-190
- Van der Hammen, Thomas, 1992: "El hombre prehistórico en la Sabana de Bogotá: datos para una prehistoria ecológica"; Historia, Ecología y Vegetación: 217-231. Corporación Araracuara; Bogotá ISBN 958-95379-4-4
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