Dragon 青竜

Before the arrival of the Spanish, Colombia was home to a rich mosaic of pre-Columbian civilizations, each with distinct cultures, technologies, and social structures. Archaeological evidence suggests human presence in the region as early as 18,000 BCE, with early societies transitioning from nomadic hunter-gatherers to settled agricultural communities by 5000 BCE. Over time, complex societies emerged, including the Muisca, Tairona, Quimbaya, Calima, San Agustín, and Zenú cultures. These groups developed sophisticated systems of agriculture, metallurgy—especially goldwork—and trade. The Muisca, for instance, formed a confederation in the Andean highlands and were known for their salt production, emerald trade, and the legendary El Dorado ritual, which involved offerings of gold into Lake Guatavita. The Tairona, based in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, built terraced cities like Ciudad Perdida and excelled in stone architecture and goldsmithing. The...

The Zenu people of Colombia are an Indigenous group with deep historical roots in the Caribbean lowlands, particularly in the valleys of the Sinu and San Jorge rivers. Flourishing from around 200 BCE to 1600 CE, they developed sophisticated systems of hydraulic engineering to manage seasonal flooding, transforming vast wetlands into fertile agricultural land. Their society was organized into provinces—FinZenu, PanZenu, and Zenufana—each with distinct roles in governance, agriculture, and gold production. Women held prominent roles in Zenu society, often symbolizing fertility and wisdom, and were even known to lead religious centers, such as the female chief Toto who governed FinZenu during the Spanish conquest. Gold held profound cultural and spiritual significance for the Zenu. They mastered the lost-wax casting technique to create intricate ornaments, often depicting animals like birds, fish, and jaguars. These pieces weren’t merely decorative—the...