 Petroglyph of El Abra | |
  Location within Colombia | |
| Location | Zipaquirá,Tocancipá,Cundinamarca |
|---|---|
| Region | Bogotá savanna Altiplano Cundiboyacense  Colombia |
| Coordinates | 5°01′02.49″N73°57′04.33″W / 5.0173583°N 73.9512028°W /5.0173583; -73.9512028 |
| Altitude | 2,570 m (8,432 ft) |
| Type | Rock shelter, petroglyphs |
| Part of | Pre-Muisca sites |
| History | |
| Material | Sandstone |
| Abandoned | Herrera Period |
| Periods | Prehistory-Herrera |
| Cultures | Preceramic hunter-gatherers |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1967 |
| Archaeologists | Correal,Hammen |
| Ownership | Hacienda El Abra, Cesar Orjuela |
| Public access | Partly |
| Designation | Climbing area |
El Abra is the name given to an extensivearcheological site, located in the valley of the same name. El Abra is situated in the east of the municipalityZipaquirá extending to the westernmost part ofTocancipá in the department ofCundinamarca,Colombia. The several hundred metres long series ofrock shelters is in the north of theBogotá savanna on theAltiplano Cundiboyacense,Eastern Ranges of the ColombianAndes at an altitude of 2,570 metres (8,430 ft). The rock shelter andcave system is one of the first evidences ofhuman settlement in theAmericas, dated at 12,400 ± 160 yearsBP. The site was used by thehunter-gatherers of theLate Pleistocene epoch.
The name El Abra is taken from a largehacienda of that name at the foot of the western portion of the rock formation. The eastern side of the outcropping sandstones is accessible. Climbing activities at theseRocas de Sevilla are organised.[1]
The first research in the place was conducted in 1967, and the stratigraphy oflithic instruments,bones and vegetalcharcoal withradiocarbon dating established the date of the settlement in 12,400 ± 160 yearsBP.[2][3]
In the late 1960s, theIndiana University collaborated in a deeper research. In 1970, theDutch Foundation for the Advancement of Tropical Research (NWO-WOTRO) discovered four newpreceramic sites and the analysis of lacustrine sediments allowed a more accurate understanding of the paleoclimate and flora.
The Fúquene stadial, named afterLake Fúquene, close to thevillage of the same name, is defined from 15,000 to 12,500 BP. It is characterized by a cold climate, flora typical ofpáramo ecosystems, andlithic tools.
About 12,500 years ago, a gradual rise of temperature allowed the return ofAndeancloud forest and the settlement of many animal species, makinghunting easier. Artefacts of this period are calledabriense:flint (tool)s, andchopper cores. As the climate was more benign, the cave system was gradually abandoned.
The excavations of this period, nearTocancipá at Tibitó, dated at 11,400 years BP, show lithic instruments, bone tools and remains ofPleistocene megafauna, such asmastodons (Haplomastodon waringi andCuvieronius hyodon), Americanhorse (Equus amerhipuus lasallei), and deer (Odocoileus virginianus) with traces of ritual ceremonies.
Dated 11,000 BP, it is characterized by a new cooling of the climate, recession of the forests and a last period of extendingglaciations. From this period the archaeological site ofTequendama inSoacha shows lithic instruments (Tequendamenses tools) with a more smooth manufacture, many of them made with materials brought to this place from theMagdalena River valley, such asquartzite. At Tequendama, evidence for domestication ofguinea pigs has been uncovered.
Around 10,000 years BP, the last glaciation ended and the Andean forests appeared again. The lithic instruments show a rise in recollecting activities, withrodents andvegetables consumed, and lower amounts of large animals hunted. The El Abra caves were abandoned gradually, while other nearby rock shelters likeNemocón and open area settlements asChecua were populated.
.
In Aguazuque, around 5,000 BP,agriculture was established on elevated terraces, grinding stone instruments can be observed in association with itinerant habits. Theabriense type instruments disappear.
While access to the western Zipaquirá part of the rock formation is restricted as it is located on private lands, the eastern area in Tocancipá is accessible and around 20 climbing routes have been constructed. The climbing is comparable but more challenging than the famous routes ofSuesca, due to the overhanging character of the formation.[1]
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