Quimbaya artifacts: Difference between revisions
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== Background == | == Background == | ||
The Quimbaya artifacts can be considered the most valuable and controversial pre-Colombian archaeological discovery. According to archaeologists, the artifacts measure about 2 to 5 inches tall and represent a variety of birds, insects, lizards, and other animals. The gold assemblage dates to around 1000 C.E. due to the emergence of gold work appearing in the Quimbaya civilization <ref> Scott, D.A. & Meyers, P. (1992) Archaeometry of Pre-Columbian Sites and Artifacts. UCLA institute of archaeology and the Getty conservation institute, Los Angeles California.</ref>. The gold is seen as sacred metal work, and is believed to represent the passing onto the afterlife. The Quimbaya populations occupied parts of Colombia, specifically Eje Cafetero and Valle del Cauca, as early as 100BCE. The Quimbaya treasures are most commonly known due to their resemblance to aircrafts. Many theorize that their origin may be of extra-terrestrials. The assemblage is now on display at the [http://museodeamerica.mcu.es Museo de América] (Museum of the Americas) in Madrid. | The Quimbaya artifacts can be considered the most valuable and controversial pre-Colombian archaeological discovery. According to archaeologists, the artifacts measure about 2 to 5 inches tall and represent a variety of birds, insects, lizards, and other animals. The gold assemblage dates to around 1000 C.E. due to the emergence of gold work appearing in the Quimbaya civilization <ref> name="scott" Scott, D.A. & Meyers, P. (1992) Archaeometry of Pre-Columbian Sites and Artifacts. UCLA institute of archaeology and the Getty conservation institute, Los Angeles California.</ref>. The gold is seen as sacred metal work, and is believed to represent the passing onto the afterlife. The Quimbaya populations occupied parts of Colombia, specifically Eje Cafetero and Valle del Cauca, as early as 100BCE. The Quimbaya treasures are most commonly known due to their resemblance to aircrafts. Many theorize that their origin may be of extra-terrestrials. The assemblage is now on display at the [http://museodeamerica.mcu.es Museo de América] (Museum of the Americas) in Madrid. | ||
===Discovery=== | ===Discovery=== | ||
The Quimbaya gold figurines were found in two tombs in Cauca river valley of Colombia. During the 16th century, Spanish raiders were known to ransack tombs and other areas that were notorious for their gold, especially the river valleys . The area was looted for gold and other valuable resources, so many contextual artifacts that may have lied with the treasures may never be found. According to reports, there was supposedly 200 gold figurines found when the tombs were looted, but only 123 artifacts were accounted for when ownership was given to Carlos Holguín, President of the Republic, in 1891.<ref>Perea, A, et al. Pre-hispanic goldwork technology. The Quimbaya Treasure, Colombia. Vol. 40, Journal of Archaeological Science, 2013, pp. 2326-34. ScienceDirect.</ref> Due to the looting of the tombs, the context behind the artifacts is very vague. | The Quimbaya gold figurines were found in two tombs in Cauca river valley of Colombia. During the 16th century, Spanish raiders were known to ransack tombs and other areas that were notorious for their gold, especially the river valleys.<ref name="jan" /> The area was looted for gold and other valuable resources, so many contextual artifacts that may have lied with the treasures may never be found. According to reports, there was supposedly 200 gold figurines found when the tombs were looted, but only 123 artifacts were accounted for when ownership was given to Carlos Holguín, President of the Republic, in 1891.<ref>Perea, A, et al. Pre-hispanic goldwork technology. The Quimbaya Treasure, Colombia. Vol. 40, Journal of Archaeological Science, 2013, pp. 2326-34. ScienceDirect.</ref> Due to the looting of the tombs, the context behind the artifacts is very vague. | ||
=== Context === | === Context === | ||
The Quimbaya civilization was a culture in pre-Colombia during the 1st century BCE. The peak of their civilization occurred during the 4th and 7th centuries CE, this period is known as The Quimbaya Classic. The Quimbayans were great farmers that cultivated corn and avocados, as well as hunted and fished for food subsistence. The Quimbaya were known for hunting deer and rabbits, along with armadillos, foxes, and opossums. They were also notorious for mining, specifically gold, and developed incredible metal working techniques that gave their art pieces a fine and polished finish <ref>The art of Precolumbian gold : the Jan Mitchell collection. Boston : Little Brown, 1985.</ref>. They were often melting gold with copper to create art pieces that had beauty and durability. The civilization is also known to perform ritualistic cannibalism. Sometimes their victims were war enemies, whose heads ended up on sticks, other times it was for special events and rituals. The Quimbaya civilization took burial practices very seriously. They were known for extravagant burial tombs, in which they would leave loads of riches. This is where the Quimbaya artifacts can be found. The Quimbaya civilization has no modern tribes today, as the civilization seemed to diminish in the 10th century. Theories for the fall of the civilization revolve around a cultural development in which tribes were broken off and separated by trades. | The Quimbaya civilization was a culture in pre-Colombia during the 1st century BCE. The peak of their civilization occurred during the 4th and 7th centuries CE, this period is known as The Quimbaya Classic. The Quimbayans were great farmers that cultivated corn and avocados, as well as hunted and fished for food subsistence. The Quimbaya were known for hunting deer and rabbits, along with armadillos, foxes, and opossums. They were also notorious for mining, specifically gold, and developed incredible metal working techniques that gave their art pieces a fine and polished finish <ref> name="jan">The art of Precolumbian gold : the Jan Mitchell collection. Boston : Little Brown, 1985.</ref>. They were often melting gold with copper to create art pieces that had beauty and durability. The civilization is also known to perform ritualistic cannibalism. Sometimes their victims were war enemies, whose heads ended up on sticks, other times it was for special events and rituals. The Quimbaya civilization took burial practices very seriously. They were known for extravagant burial tombs, in which they would leave loads of riches. This is where the Quimbaya artifacts can be found. The Quimbaya civilization has no modern tribes today, as the civilization seemed to diminish in the 10th century. Theories for the fall of the civilization revolve around a cultural development in which tribes were broken off and separated by trades. | ||
==Pseudoarchaeological Narrative== | ==Pseudoarchaeological Narrative== | ||
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===Archaeological Record=== | ===Archaeological Record=== | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 05:06, 6 December 2019
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Background
The Quimbaya artifacts can be considered the most valuable and controversial pre-Colombian archaeological discovery. According to archaeologists, the artifacts measure about 2 to 5 inches tall and represent a variety of birds, insects, lizards, and other animals. The gold assemblage dates to around 1000 C.E. due to the emergence of gold work appearing in the Quimbaya civilization [1]. The gold is seen as sacred metal work, and is believed to represent the passing onto the afterlife. The Quimbaya populations occupied parts of Colombia, specifically Eje Cafetero and Valle del Cauca, as early as 100BCE. The Quimbaya treasures are most commonly known due to their resemblance to aircrafts. Many theorize that their origin may be of extra-terrestrials. The assemblage is now on display at the Museo de América (Museum of the Americas) in Madrid.
Discovery
The Quimbaya gold figurines were found in two tombs in Cauca river valley of Colombia. During the 16th century, Spanish raiders were known to ransack tombs and other areas that were notorious for their gold, especially the river valleys.[2] The area was looted for gold and other valuable resources, so many contextual artifacts that may have lied with the treasures may never be found. According to reports, there was supposedly 200 gold figurines found when the tombs were looted, but only 123 artifacts were accounted for when ownership was given to Carlos Holguín, President of the Republic, in 1891.[3] Due to the looting of the tombs, the context behind the artifacts is very vague.
Context
The Quimbaya civilization was a culture in pre-Colombia during the 1st century BCE. The peak of their civilization occurred during the 4th and 7th centuries CE, this period is known as The Quimbaya Classic. The Quimbayans were great farmers that cultivated corn and avocados, as well as hunted and fished for food subsistence. The Quimbaya were known for hunting deer and rabbits, along with armadillos, foxes, and opossums. They were also notorious for mining, specifically gold, and developed incredible metal working techniques that gave their art pieces a fine and polished finish [4]. They were often melting gold with copper to create art pieces that had beauty and durability. The civilization is also known to perform ritualistic cannibalism. Sometimes their victims were war enemies, whose heads ended up on sticks, other times it was for special events and rituals. The Quimbaya civilization took burial practices very seriously. They were known for extravagant burial tombs, in which they would leave loads of riches. This is where the Quimbaya artifacts can be found. The Quimbaya civilization has no modern tribes today, as the civilization seemed to diminish in the 10th century. Theories for the fall of the civilization revolve around a cultural development in which tribes were broken off and separated by trades.
Pseudoarchaeological Narrative
Theories
Archaeological Record
References
- ↑ name="scott" Scott, D.A. & Meyers, P. (1992) Archaeometry of Pre-Columbian Sites and Artifacts. UCLA institute of archaeology and the Getty conservation institute, Los Angeles California.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedjan - ↑ Perea, A, et al. Pre-hispanic goldwork technology. The Quimbaya Treasure, Colombia. Vol. 40, Journal of Archaeological Science, 2013, pp. 2326-34. ScienceDirect.
- ↑ name="jan">The art of Precolumbian gold : the Jan Mitchell collection. Boston : Little Brown, 1985.