TheBogotá savanna, location of the agricultural fields of the MuiscaMaize was the main agricultural product for the MuiscaAvocados are a sub-tropical fruit, traded with indigenous neighbours who inhabited cooler areasAfter the conquest of the Muisca lands,barley was introduced quickly and grew well on the fertile highlandsThecubio; a tuber cultivated in the higher altitude areas of the Muisca terrainsQuinoa was a plant originally from Peru, but cultivated in the highlands of the Muisca territoriesChivatá means "our outside crop fields" in Muysccubun
The central highlands of the Colombian Andes show evidence of population since 12,400 yearsBP at various archaeological sites such asEl Abra,Tequendama andTibitó. Theprehistorical period is calledPreceramic and lasted from 11,000 to 7000 years BP. This was followed by the Archaic period until 3000 BP (1000 BCE). Some of the earliest evidence of agriculture inSouth America is found in Colombia, dated at 4000 to 3000 BCE.[1] Around this time,archaeological evidence shows the previoushunter-gatherer-based people left their rock shelters and started to live on the open plains of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, especially the southern part, theBogotá savanna.[2]
Between ca. 1500 to 1000 BCE, the increase in d13C in Muisca human remains analysed indicate a diet that was richer in maize and as of 1000 BCE maize dominated the Muisca diet.[3] Analysis of C4 by theGroningen University revealed that the cultivation of maize took a leap around 750-800 BCE, the most accepted start of theHerrera Period.[4] During the Early Herrera, around 500 BCE, the use ofceramics became widespread in the area.[5] It is theorized that those developments happened because of the migration of people from other areas.[6]
From approximately 800 AD, the Herrera Period was followed by the Early Muisca Period that lasted until 1200. From 1200 until the conquest of the Spanish, the time is called Late Muisca.[7] The difference between the Early and Late Muisca Periods mainly lies in the organization of the chiefdoms (cacicazgos) and the population growth. During the Late Muisca Period, the people were organized in a loose confederation of different rulers. The mainrulers were thezipa based inBacatá and thezaque who was seated inHunza. The northernmost parts of theMuisca Confederation were ruled by theTundama inTundama and the holyiraca based in the sacred City of the SunSuamox. Apart from that, differentcaciques were the heads of smaller villages ofbohíos in other parts of the Muisca territories.
The Muisca, living on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, were mainly concentrated on the plains and in the valleys, comprising 12% of the Muisca territory, with minor communities in the higher terrains and slopes of the mountains. As the valleys, especially theBogotá savanna were part of an ancient lake,Lake Humboldt, the soil was very fertile allowing for a variety of crops to be cultivated.[8]
The agriculture of the Muisca was performed on small-scale cropfields, part of more extensive lands, and in a rather egalitarian manner; the highersocial classes did not have access to more agricultural products than the lower class Muisca.[9] Their main difference was in the construction of their houses and access to meat.
The predominant agricultural product of the Muisca wasmaize and they hadnumerous words in their language,Muysccubun, for the plant, kernels and processing of it.[10] Evidence for maize cultivation predates the Muisca; already in the Herrera Period maize cultivation has been identified based onpollen analysis.[11] Thecacicazgos wereself-sufficient in their agricultural products and surpluses of maize (abitago) were traded for more tropical climate fruits such aspineapples,avocados andIpomea batatas.[12][13]
The Muisca used terraces for their agriculture on the often flooded highlands and a system ofirrigation anddrainage was developed.[14] They cultivated their crops in rows of mounds.[15][16]
The harvests and the cultivation of the crop fields was the task of men, while thewomen did the sowing. The Muisca believed the fertility of the women would be transferred to the crop fields.[17] To increase the fertility of the cropfields, the farmers burned plants and spread the ash over their lands.[17]
After the Spanishconquest, the reformation was not only political (encomenderos) and religious, through the manymissionaries, but also on an agricultural level. The transition to a mixed agriculture withOld World crops was remarkably fast, mainly to do with the fertility of the lands of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense permitting European crops to grow there, while in the more tropical areas the soil was not so much suited for the foreign crops. In 1555, the Muisca ofToca were growing European crops aswheat andbarley andsugarcane was grown in other areas.[18]
Tropaeolum tuberosum orcubio, ideally grown at high altitudes exceeding 3,000 metres (9,800 ft)[21]
Oxalis tuberosa, although this root is not native to Colombia, it was used by pre-Columbian societies in Cundinamarca and Boyacá after being introduced from its place of origin in Peru, where the majority of varieties are found[22]
In theMuisca religion, the god of fertility of the farmfields and the people wasChaquén. During times of sowing and harvest the people gathered to pay tribute to Chaquén. At these festivities, defined by theMuisca calendar, they drankchicha, an alcoholic beverage made from fermented maize and sugar.[39]
Daza, Blanca Ysabel (2013),Historia del proceso de mestizaje alimentario entre Colombia y España - History of the integration process of foods between Colombia and Spain (PhD) (PhD) (in Spanish), Barcelona, Spain:Universitat de Barcelona, pp. 1–494
Francis, John Michael (1993),"Muchas hipas, no minas" The Muiscas, a merchant society: Spanish misconceptions and demographic change (M.A.) (M.A.),University of Alberta, pp. 1–118
Hammen, Thomas van der;Correal Urrego, Gonzalo; Klinken, Gert Jaap van (1990), "Isótopos estables y dieta del hombre prehistórico en la sabana de Bogotá - Stable isotopes and diet of the prehistoric man on the Bogotá savanna",Boletín de arqueología (in Spanish),2, Bogotá, Colombia:3–10
Langebaek Rueda, Carl Henrik; Bernal, Marcela; Aristizabal, Lucero; Corcione, María Antonieta; Rojas, Camilo; Santa, Tatiana (2011), "Condiciones de vida y jerarquías sociales en el norte de Suramérica: el caso de la población muisca en Tibanica, Soacha - Life conditions and social hierarchies in the north of South America: the case of the Muisca population in Tibanica, Soacha",Indiana (in Spanish),28, Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut Preußischer Kulturbesitz:15–34
Ocampo López, Javier (2013),Mitos y leyendas indígenas de Colombia - Indigenous myths and legends of Colombia (in Spanish), Bogotá, Colombia: Plaza & Janes Editores Colombia S.A., pp. 1–219,ISBN978-958-14-1416-1
Ocampo López, Javier (2007),Grandes culturas indígenas de América - Great indigenous cultures of the Americas (in Spanish), Bogotá, Colombia: Plaza & Janes Editores Colombia S.A., pp. 1–238,ISBN978-958-14-0368-4
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