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|
 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 30,000[1] (1537) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
Cundinamarca,Tolima, Colombia | |
| Languages | |
| Panche,Colombian Spanish | |
| Religion | |
| Traditional religion,Catholicism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Muzo,Muisca,Sutagao,Pijao |
ThePanche orTolima are anindigenous group of people that lived in what is nowColombia. They inhabited the southwestern parts of thedepartment ofCundinamarca and the northeastern areas of the department ofTolima, close to theMagdalena River. At the time of theSpanish conquest, more than 30,000 Panche were living in what would become theNew Kingdom of Granada.[1] Early knowledge about the Panche has been compiled byscholarPedro Simón.
The Panche were inhabiting the lower altitude southwestern areas of the Cundinamarca department, close to the Magdalena River. Their northern neighbours were theMuzo in the northeast and thePantágora in the northwest, in the east theMuisca, in the southeast theSutagao and to the south and southwest thePijao. The northern limits were defined by the Río Negro and the Guarinó River and the southern limits the Coello and Fusagasugá Rivers.[2]
The Panche people were organized in a loose confederation with different subgroups whose names still remain as municipalities of Cundinamarca.
| Name | Department | Altitude (m) urban centre | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albán | Cundinamarca | 2245 |  |
| Anapoima | Cundinamarca | 710 |  |
| Anolaima | Cundinamarca | 1657 |  |
| Apulo | Cundinamarca | 420 |  |
| Beltrán | Cundinamarca | 235 |  |
| Bituima | Cundinamarca | 1627 |  |
| Cachipay | Cundinamarca | 1600 |  |
| Chaguaní | Cundinamarca | 1200 |  |
| El Colegio | Cundinamarca | 990 |  |
| Girardot | Cundinamarca | 326 |  |
| Guaduas | Cundinamarca | 992 |  |
| Guataquí | Cundinamarca | 227 |  |
| Guayabal de Síquima | Cundinamarca | 1630 |  |
| La Mesa | Cundinamarca | 1200 |  |
| Nilo | Cundinamarca | 336 |  |
| Nimaima | Cundinamarca | 1085 |  |
| Nocaima | Cundinamarca | 1105 |  |
| Pulí | Cundinamarca | 1270 |  |
| Quipile | Cundinamarca | 2012 |  |
| Ricaurte | Cundinamarca | 284 |  |
| San Juan de Rioseco | Cundinamarca | 1303 |  |
| Sasaima | Cundinamarca | 1203 |  |
| Tibacuy (disputed with thezipa of theMuisca) | Cundinamarca | 1647 |  |
| Tocaima | Cundinamarca | 400 |  |
| Vianí | Cundinamarca | 1498 |  |
| Viotá | Cundinamarca | 567 |  |
| Ambalema | Tolima | 241 |  |
| Honda | Tolima | 229 |  |
| Mariquita | Tolima | 495 |  |
The Panche were a strong group of warriors who fought numerous battles with the neighbouring Muisca. They walked partially naked and were ornamented with earrings, feathers andgolden pieces.[3]
The Panche hunted and fought wars with their enemies using sticks and clubs and poisoned arrows. They used poison of spiders and snakes for their arrows.[3]
Petroglyphs of the Panche were discovered inTibacuy,Viotá,El Colegio,Cachipay,Albán,Sasaima. Rock paintings have been found in Tibacuy.[4]
Like other indigenous peoples of the Americas, such as theGuane, the Panche performedcranial deformation.[3]
According to Pedro Simón, the Panche performedcannibalism on parts of their conquered enemies.[5] Some sources state they ate everything except for the heads, which they hung in theirbohíos.[6] However, later research by various researchers has found no evidence for cannibalism and attribute the cannibalistic ideas to the Spanish conquistadores.[7]
In terms of their burial practices, the Panches differed from their neighbours that the dead were not oriented in a fixed position, like the Muisca with their heads to the east and the Muzo with their heads to the west.[8]
The Panche language is extinct, and is unclassified due to lack of attestation.
The Panche civilization has been described from 300 AD onwards.[1] Around the year 1000 migrations from theCaribbean coast of Colombia happened inward.[9]
After the Spanish conquest and the installation of theNew Kingdom of Granada, the Panche quickly diminished due to their resistance against the Spanishconquistadores.[10] The first Spanish conquerors who invaded the Panche territories wereJuan de Céspedes and Alonso de San Martín.[5] Later conquest was performed byHernán Venegas Carrillo.
More than 2000 artefacts from the Panche are stored in theMuseo del Oro inBogotá.[3]
| Name | Department | Date | Year | Note(s) | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bituima | Cundinamarca | 15 August | 1543 | [11] | |
| Chaguaní | Cundinamarca | 1543 | [12] | | |
| Apulo | Cundinamarca | 5 January | 1544 | [13] | |
| Tocaima | Cundinamarca | 20 March | 1544 | [14] | |
