El Abra

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El Abra ( Spanish for the top of the pass ) is an archaeological site to the east of Zipaquirá in Colombia, 2570 meters above sea level . It consists of abrises that were inhabited by very early settler groups in South America from the end of the Pleistocene .

Etymology and location

El Abra (Cundinamarca)
El Abra
El Abra
Localization of Cundinamarca in Colombia
Location of El Abra in Cundinamarca
Petroglyphs from a cave in Albán

The site was named after the river valley of the same name, Valle del Abra . It is located in the municipality of Zipaquirá in the savannah of Bogotá , in the department of Cundinamarca . The Spanish abra means mountain pass, clearing or opening.

Discovery and excavation

The investigations at the El Abra site go back to 1967. For the first time in Colombia, a stratigraphic sequence was uncovered in which stone tools ( choppers ) and debris and animal bones appeared together. Activated charred plant remains could be dated and resulted in a radiocarbon age of 12,400 (± 160) years BP or 10,450 BC. Chr.

From 1969 the Insituto Colombiano de Antropología, in collaboration with Indiana University and from 1970 with a Dutch foundation (NWO-WOTRO), localized four further preceramic sites, whose layered lake deposits enabled precise reconstructions of the climate and the prevailing vegetation by means of palynological studies .

Fúquene Stadium

In the period 15,000 to 12,400 years BP (or 13,050 to 10,450 BC), the conditions of the Fúquene stadium prevailed , the climate was cold and dry and the vegetation consisted of the Páramo ecosystem . The snow line at that time was 1,300 meters lower than it is today. In a stratigraphic unit with a minimum age of 13,000 years BP or 11,050 BC. Chr. Is estimated, stone chips were found - first evidence of human presence.

Guantiva Interstadial

Around 12,500 BP or 10,550 BC. BC, with the beginning of the late glacial Guantiva Interstadial - named after the homonymous type locality in the Departamento de Boyacá - temperatures gradually rose. Increased rainfall created small lakes . As a consequence, the Andean forest vegetation was able to gain a foothold and certain animal species could spread. The changed ecological conditions now made it possible for groups of hunters to settle in the region. This left numerous rand worked stone artifacts ( Engl. Edge trimmed tools ) such as various types of scrapers, recovered from reductions knives and rasps. These artefacts, mainly made of Lydites or Chert , are known as Abrienses facies and come partly from the chalk formations in the area .

El Abra itself, however, was less visited during the interstadial because of the warming climate, recognizable by the sparse finds.

Tibitó Stadium

The now extinct Equus amerhippus
Cuvieronius hyodon

At the archaeological site of Tibitó near Tocancipá , stone tools and bones were also found in association with remains of Pleistocene fauna. They were dated to 11,740 BP and 9,790 BC. Among the remains of the fauna were gomphotheria such as Notiomastodon and Cuvieronius hyodon , the South American horse Equus neogeus , the white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus and the fox Cerdocyon thous , whose bones had obviously been ritually worked.

The stone artifacts of the Tibitó stadium also essentially belong to the Abrienses facies. In addition to scrapers, there are also knives and drills made from bone.

El Abra Stadium

During the El-Abra-Stadial , named after the type locality , the last stadium of the end of the Ice Age around 11,000 BP or 9050 BC. BC, the temperatures continued to drop and the forest vegetation withdrew. The savannah of Bogotá turned into a subparamo with a lot of open grassland and only a few bushes. In association with the previously common stone tools (Abrienses facies), completely new artifacts can be found in this stadial, which occur at the Tequendama site near Soacha (Tequendama facies). Their much finer raw material, obtained through mastered printing and cutting techniques, comes from the valley of the Río Magdalena and thus proves the great mobility of nomadic hunters. In addition to retouched knives, Tequendama comes with a projectile point, a keeled rasp, a bifacial blade made of quartzite, and very carefully crafted scrapers and blades. Overall, cutting devices make up more than 50%, scrapers 30% and drills 7% of the tools.

In addition, Tequendama supplied various remains of fauna because of the much better conservation conditions than in El Abra. Including 40% deer and 30% rodents (especially guinea pigs Cavia porcellus ) and small mammals such as the rabbit Sylvilagus , the armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus , Tayra Eira barbara and the tortoiseshell Potos flavus .

Holocene

With the end of the Ice Age and the beginning of the Holocene around 10,000 years ago BP, there was a rise in the tree line due to rising temperatures; the Andean forest with oak , Weinmannia tomentosa and alder consequently expanded again. During this period, in addition to the usual artifacts, an abundance of hammer tools appeared , indicating a sharp increase in collecting activities. Snail finds point in the same direction . In terms of nutrition, there has been a change to more plant-based food; the meat-based diet, previously based on large game, is now largely being replaced by small mammals ( rodents ), which make up 75% of the bone finds. These cultural adaptations, which go hand in hand with the climatic improvement, lead up to the 6th millennium BC. For the successive abandonment of the demolition.

Aguazuque

Edible tubers of the tuberous wood sorrel in front left

The archaeological site Aguazuque in Soacha testified that by 3000 years BP (5550-1050 v. Chr.) Flood-proof in Mittelholozän hunter-gatherer groups planters in the period 7500 terraces were created. At the same time, mortars and graters appear for the preparation of seeds and fruit grains. The former stone artifacts of the Abrikultur are being replaced by an enormous variety of bone tools.

In the period 5025 to 2225 BP (3075 to 275 BC), five settlement levels can be identified in Aguazuque. Clear remains of cultivated plants such as tuberous wood sorrel ( Oxalis tuberosa ) and garden gourd ( Cucurbita pepo ) were found to be 2725 BP or 775 BC. Dated.

Finds of calcined bone fragments and skeletons with severed skulls are remarkable, indicating complex burial rites and possibly anthropophagy . In skeletons dated to 5030 ± 35 years BP (3080 ± 35 BC) diseases such as osteoarthritis and treponematosis could also be recognized.

Zipacón

The late Holocene site Zipacón, located in the savannah of Bogotá, delivered BP and 1320 BC with 3270 years. BC the oldest dating of the appearance of ceramics . Accompanying crop remains are avocado ( Persea Americana ), potatoes , maize ( Zea maíz ) and calabash trees ( Crescentia cuyete ).

Other sites

In addition to the abovementioned whereabouts of the hunters and gatherers in the savannah of Bogotá, the following neighboring sites (abrises) should be mentioned:

  • Cueva in the urban area of ​​Bojacá,
  • Chía ,
  • Quebraditas
  • Neusa in the urban area of Cogua .

Are open-air sites

  • Galindo
  • Vistahermosa .

meaning

El Abra is the first pre-ceramic site in Colombia whose layered deposits, interspersed with cultural and historical artefacts, date back to the Pleistocene. Thus, there are increasing signs that the human presence in South America went back to before the Holocene and did not just begin - as previously reportedly - with the Holocene.

In this context see also:

Interestingly, the Abrienses facies of the artifacts from El Abra show a relationship with other, more distant sites, such as B. El Bosque in Nicaragua , as well as Siches and Santa Elena in Ecuador .

reading

  • Correal Urrego, Gonzalo: Estado actual de las investigaciones sobre la etapa lítica en Colombia . In: Antropológicas . tape 2 . Colombian Anthropologic Society, Bogotá 1980, p. 11-30 .
  • Correal Urrego, Gonzalo: Evidencias culturales durante el Pleistoeno y Holoceno de Colombia . In: Revista de Arqueología Americana . tape 1 . Instituto Panamericano de Geografía e Historia, México 1990, p. 69-89 .
  • Correal, Gonzalo, van der Hammen, Thomas and Lerman, JC: Artefactos líticos de abrigos en El Abra, Colombia . In: Revista Colombiana de Antropología . tape 14 , 1970, pp. 9-46 .
  • Hurt, Wesley, van der Hammen, T. and Correal, G .: La ecología y tecnología de los abrigos rocosos en El Abra, Sabana de Bogotá, Colombia . In: Boletín de la Sociedad Geográfica Colombiana . XXX (109). Bogotá 1976, p. 1-21 .
  • Van der Hammen, Thomas and González, E .: Historia de clima y vegetación del Pleistoceno superior y Holoceno de la Sabana de Bogotá . In: Boletín Geológico . XI (1-3). Bogotá 1963, p. 189-266 .
  • Van der Hammen, T. and Correal, G .: Prehistoric man on the Sabana de Bogota: data for an ecological prehistory " . In: Paleography, Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology . Volume 25 , 1978, pp. 179-190 .
  • van der Hammen, Thomas: El hombre prehistórico en la Sabana de Bogotá: datos para una prehistoria ecológica . In: Historia, Ecología y Vegetación . Corporación Araracuara, Bogotá 1992, ISBN 958-95379-4-4 , p. 217-231 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Correal Urrego, G .: Evidencias culturales durante el Pleistoceno y Holoceno de Colombia . In: Revista de Arqueología Americana . no 1, 1990, p. 69-89 .
  2. ^ Van der Hammen, Thomas: Stratigraphy and environments of the Upper Quaternary of the El Abra corridor and rock shelters of Colombia . In: The Quaternary of Colombia . tape 6 . Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam 1978, p. 179-190 .
  3. ↑ Uprimny, Helena: Excavaciones Arqueológicas en el alto del Cubia. Tesis de grado. Manuscrito inédito . Bogotá 1969.
  4. ^ Ardila, Gerardo Ignacio: Chía - Un sitio precerámico en la Sabana de Bogotá . Ed .: Fundación de Investigaciones Arqueológicas Nacionales del Banco de la República. 1984.
  5. ↑ Gutiérrez, Silva de and García, L .: Vacío Prehistórico en la Sabana de Bogotá . Ed .: Fundación de Investigaciones Arqueológicas Nacionales, Banco de la República. Bogotá 1983.
  6. ↑ Rivera, Sergio: Investigaclones Arqueológicas en la región del Neusa, Municipio de Tausa . Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Facultad de Ciencias Humanas. Department of Anthropology 1987.
  7. ^ Pinto, María: Investigaclones Arqueológicas en un sitio precerámico a campo abierto en la Sabana de Bogotá - Medio Ambiente Pleistocénico-Holocénico y Hombre Prehistórico en Colombia. Chamfer IX . 1989.
  8. ↑ Correal, Gonzalo: Excavaciones Arqueológicas en Mosquera . In: Arqueología. Rev. de Estudiantes de Antropología . no. 3, año 1, Sep. Universidad National de Colombia 1987, p. 13-17 .
  9. ^ Correal, G., Van der Hammen, T. & Lerman, JC: Artefactos líticos de abrigos rocosos en el Abra Colombia . In: Rev. Col. Antropología . tape 14 , 1969, p. 9-46 .
  10. ^ Bate, Luis Felipe: Comunidades Primitivas de cazadores recolectores en Sudamérica . In: Historia General de América. Periodo Indígena, tome II . Caracas 1983.
  11. ↑ Stothert, Karen: The preceramic. Las Vegas of Coastal, Ecuador . In: Proyecto Paleoindio. Informe preliminar. Publicaciones del Museo Antropológico del Banco Central, Guayaquil (ed.): American Antiquity . tape 50 (3) , 1985.

Coordinates: 5 ° 1 ′  N , 73 ° 57 ′  W