  Location within Colombia | |
| Location | Nemocón,Cundinamarca |
|---|---|
| Region | Bogotá savanna Altiplano Cundiboyacense  Colombia |
| Coordinates | 5°07′12.1″N73°52′35.3″W / 5.120028°N 73.876472°W /5.120028; -73.876472 |
| Altitude | 2,577 m (8,455 ft)[1] |
| Type | Open area settlement |
| Part of | Pre-Muisca sites |
| History | |
| Periods | Preceramic |
| Cultures | Preceramic |
| Site notes | |
| Archaeologists | Ana María Groot[2] |
Checua is apreceramic open areaarchaeological site inNemocón,Cundinamarca,Colombia. The site is located 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north of the town centre.[2][3] At Checua, thousands of stone and bone tools, stone flakes and human remains have been found, indicating human occupation from around 8500 to 3000 yearsBP.
A prominentarchaeologist for Checua isAna María Groot, who published the results of her research in 1992.[4] In August 2025, it was reported that human remains from the area dated to about 6000 years BP which had their genome fully sequenced for the first time, represented a previously unknown human lineage, with no known descendants.[5]
The Altiplano Cundiboyacense has been inhabited at least since 12,500 years ago. The first human settlers migrated via theDarién Gap from Central America to South America and led ahunter-gatherer lifestyle. They populated the rock shelters of the high plateau in the Andes, then still with abundantPleistocene megafauna asCuvieronius,Haplomastodon,Equus amerhippus andgiant sloths.
During thispreceramic phase, the population shifted from rock shelters to open area settlement, of whichGalindo and Checua are among the oldest. A later site inSoacha, Cundinamarca;Aguazuque is comparable to Checua.
During the second millennium before present, the population increased and settlements became bigger. This is evidenced in the findings at thesalt mine of Nemocón.[6]
Checua is located in a valley of theAltiplano Cundiboyacense and its geology is determined by theAndean orogeny. Checua lies in the middle of a richhalite area, with salt mines in Nemocón,Zipaquirá andTausa surrounding the site. The sedimentary sequence consists of the oldest outcropping units of theVilleta Group ofEarly Cretaceous age. This sequence is followed by the sandstone formations of theGuadalupe Group,Late Cretaceous in age. Overlying theMesozoic section is theMaastrichtian toPaleoceneGuaduas Formation. Due to the Andean tectonic movements, most of the Tertiary section is eroded or non-deposited and the Guaduas Formation is overlain by thePleistoceneSabana Formation.[7]
The climate of the area around Checua is constant throughout the year with an average maximum temperature of 21.9 °C (71.4 °F) and an average minimum of 3.05 °C (37.49 °F). The yearly precipitation varies from 600 millimetres (24 in) to 750 millimetres (30 in), mostly in short erosional showers. The winds can be strong and aid the erosive process of the water.[8]
The vegetation was of a lower altitude dry forest type with native speciesDodanae viscosa,Baccharis sp.,Prunus capuli,Xilosma speculiferum,Duratana mutissi,Lupinus sp.,dividivi (Tara spinosa),Solanum sp.,Hesperolemes heterophyla andfique (Agave sp.).[9]
The Checua site has been divided into nine stratigraphical units of sands and clays.[10] More than 1750 lithic tools have been found in the units, with a highest frequency in units 4 and 5b. They mostly consist of scrapers and knives. Furthermore, 2820 stone flakes, interpreted as materials to build tools have been discovered, with a highest frequency in unit 8.[11]
Various bone tools have been found in Checua. The type is very similar to those found atAguazuque andTequendama. Apart from tools, also amusical instrument made from bone has been uncovered. This boneflute was discovered in stratigraphic unit 5b at a depth of 60 centimetres (2.0 ft).[12]
Dating of thetooth enamel of one of the remains, usingElectronic Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), provided an age of 7850 ± 190 years BP.[13] Using the same method, in 2014 another tooth enamel was analysed, providing an age of 5021 ± 202 years BP.[14]
Analysis of the various stratigraphic levels and the tools found, led to the identification of four zones of human occupation within a total time span of 5500 years (6500–1000 years BCE).[15] The first zone, dated to about 8500 to 8200 years BP, contains mostly scrapers and perforators used for the elaboration of meat and animal skins. The second zone of occupation, lasting from about 8200 to 7800 years BP, consists of variousburial sites.[16] Here, also scrapers and perforators were found, together with the main ingredients of thediet of the people;white tailed deer andguinea pig.[17] In this zone, the bone flute has been unearthed.[18] The third level corresponds to the seventh stratigraphical unit where many bone fragments were found. The unit has been compared to Aguazuque for dating at around 5000 years BP, possibly lasting till 4000 years BP.[19] As is the case with Aguazuque, the fourth and uppermost zone has been disturbed by modernagricultural activities and the presence of glass indicates contamination with postcolonial influence. A top age for the sequence has not been provided, but an occupation until 3000 years BP is suggested.[20]
| Timeline of inhabitation of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, Colombia | |
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{{citation}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)| Prehistoric-preceramic |  | |
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| Preceramic-ceramic | ||
