The Alto de los Ídolos Archaeological Park in Isnos, Colombia, is a vital site for understanding the indigenous cultures of the Andean region, particularly the San Agustín culture, which flourished between 1000 BCE and 1500 CE.
The site provides deep insight into this pre-Columbian society, known for its complex funerary practices, monumental stone sculptures, and ceremonial architecture.
The burial mounds and artifacts span over two millennia, offering a long-term view of cultural evolution in the region.
Meseta A and Meseta B: These two artificial terraces are connected by a ceremonial embankment and contain over 20 burial mounds, sarcophagi, and more than 30 stone statues. Sculptures depict human-animal hybrids, deities, and mythical beings, reflecting the spiritual beliefs and cosmology of the indigenous people.
The site includes dolmens, tombs, and sarcophagi—some with original paint and carvings—demonstrating sophisticated mortuary practices.
The orientation of statues, use of jaguar and crocodile imagery, and ceremonial tools like coca-chewing implements reveal a rich spiritual and ritual life.
The scale and complexity of certain tombs suggest the existence of elite classes or revered individuals within the society.
The detailed carvings and symbolic motifs show a high level of artistic development and symbolic communication.
The park is still spiritually significant to local communities, including the Nasa people, who maintain cultural ties to the site. It serves as a powerful educational resource and a place for cultural exchange, helping preserve indigenous heritage for future generations.
Entrance to Alto de los Idolos Archaeological Park |
Map of Alto de los Idolos Archaeological Park |
Welcome to Alto de los Idolos Archaeological Park «Welcome to Alto de los Idolos Archaeological Park, one of the areas declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site given the presence here of monumental pre-Hispanic remains found nowhere else in the world. The site became part of the archaeological areas administered by the Instituto Colombiano de Antropologia e Historia (ICANH, in Spanish) in 1945, following its donation by historian and businessman Juan Friede. Since then, ICANH has been responsible for all research, conservation, and outreach activities associated with the area. Evidence has been found in the Alto de los Idolos area of several groups that settled approximately 3,000 years ago (1000 BCE-1500 CE). Archaeological research indicates that the site was an important political center on its own, but with strong commercial and political ties to San Agustin. The site is comprised of the following areas:
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Entrance to the Park «There are two small natural hills on this site, both artificially modified and connected by means of an embankment made of soil. The land was transformed by the pre-Hispanic inhabitants with funerary and ceremonial purposes. In order to do this, they flattened the natural tops of the hills, removed large amounts of [and, and filled out the gaps to connect the two resulting plateaus at the same level (Meseta A and Meseta B). In this relatively flat area, several - monumental tombs were built with stone slabs during the Regional Classic period (1-900 CE). Some of them have sarcophagi and funerary corridors guarded by stone sculptures. These funerary structures were eventually covered with artificial earth mounds.» |
Map of Alto de los Idolos Archaeological Park |
Between Two Large Mesetas «The two natural hills rising up on this site were leveled by pre-Hispanic inhabitants approximately 3,000 years ago (1000 BCE-1500 CE) to provide a place to bury the dead as well as land for housing. The large quantities of earth removed served as landfill to join together on a single level the two resulting Mesetas A and B. Approximately 2,000 years ago (1900 CE), the same two hills were used to build monumental tombs that included sarcophagi and slabs forming the funereal passageways lined with carved stone sculptures. Both the slabs and stone carvings are thought to have been covered in different layered combinations of yellow, red, white, and black paint obtained from minerals found in the soil in this region mixed with clay to give them elasticity and consistency.» |
Meseta A «This large sculpture was found tilted, with more than one third of its body buried in the ground. This position suggests that it was originally located looking into the deep tomb at its feet, which contained stone slabs decorated with yellow, red, and black circles. The tomb was plundered around 1936. Behind this statue, to the west, lies Meseta A, which hosts numerous funerary mounds on which several examples of monumental burials may be seen. Although the mounds with statues belong to the Regional Classic period (1 CE - 900 CE), this site had been occupied since the Formative period (1000 BCE - 1 CE) until the Recent period (900 CE - 1350 CE).» |
Panorama of Meseta A |
Large, Long, and Heavy «When this huge stone carving representing a human figure was discovered, it was tilting to one side and only two-thirds of it was above ground. It is more than five meters high and, given its location, was most likely meant to protect the deep tomb at its feet containing stone slabs painted with yellow, red and black circles. Behind this huge human-like figure is Meseta A, containing a number of burial mounds where monumental tombs were discovered. In front of Meseta A is Meseta B, featuring two tombs, each featuring stone slabs carved with saurian figures that were used to cover the sarcophagi. Archaeologist Gregorio Hernandez de Alba was the first to make mention of this statue.» |
A Monkey in Hand «This statue with human and animal features presides over the entrance to the funereal passageway. The figure carries a strange bundle on its back, from which certain parts on the left-hand side are missing and which end in fish-like figures fanning out to the side. Its huge fangs and crocodile-like snout, wide nose, and round eyes are framed by lateral petal designs. The outlined hands hold what appears to be a monkey, whose long tail rests on the statue's shoulder.» |
Heavy Sarcophagi «The various tombs on Alto de los Idolos feature a total of eight sarcophagi carved from stone, in various styles and forms, only two of which still have their lids. The sarcophagus in this tomb is located at the end of a four-meter dolmenic passageway comprised of stone columns covered by four stone slabs. Lid, carved in low relief. Represents a male figure with closed eyes, oval mouth, arms and hands resting on its chest. Lining the passageway are stone slabs painted with yellow circles with black centers.» |
Shape and Paint Preceding Tomb «Resting on this sculpture are the stone slabs that comprise the upper part of the dolmenic passageway leading to the tomb protected by stone walls, some of which still show traces of black and yellow paint on a red background. According to research findings, this symmetrical, carefully elaborated figure is the result of judicious treatment by its creators, who, based on a predetermined design, prepared colors and tones by mixing in iron oxide and clay. Color was applied directly on top of the rock, in layers, or in different mixtures, to highlight features and achieve visual effects. This was especially true of the dark red applied to the figure's nose, which depending on the angle from which it was observed, made it possible to see different figures and forms.» |
Panorama of Meseta B |
Life and Death «This part of the Upper Magdalena was occupied by a number of different human groups in pre-Hispanic times (approximately 3,000 years ago). The hill where you now stand was intentionally leveled and adapted for diverse activities such as burials, housing and farming. A total of nine burial mounds can be seen, which included passageways lined with stone slabs leading to the main burial site. Approximately 2,000 years ago, the powerful leaders of these communities were placed inside stone or wooden sarcophagi inside the mounds. Additional remains of posts, dwellings, and fireplaces, as well as artifacts from more simple burials, were also found on the esplanade where these burial mounds are located and where visitors now walk.» |
Small and Monumental Tombs «Life after death has been of transcendental importance to all human groups throughout history. For more than 3,000 years, from 1000 BCE to 1500 CE, different forms of burial were used in the area know as Alto de los Idolos. During the Formative Period (1000 BCE - 1 CE), people were most commonly buried in tombs lined with stone slabs or directly in the ground, with funeral offerings on ceramic vessels and stone tools. During the Classic Regional period (1 CE - 900 CE), some 2,000 years ago, large tombs were constructed in the form of artificial mounds up to four meters high, possibly for personages with spiritual and political power. Later, during the Recent Period (900 CE - 1350 CE), the tombs became once again more simple, and the offerings buried with the body included ceramic containers and gold and stone objects.» |
«The statue's flat head suggests that it served as a resting place for one of the slabs in the dolmenic corridor leading to the funeral chamber, where a stone sarcophagus was found. The rounded, bulging eyes on this statue seem to call attention to one of the features of water creatures. Traces of painted circular designs were also seen on some of the slabs inside the chamber.» |
Carved and Painted «Archaeologists cataloged this figure, popularly referred to as The Girl and the Gourd, in 1913, as part of Mound 10, and again in the 1940s, when it showed signs of damage and alterations caused by tomb raiders. Still visible on the carvings were traces of brown and black paint, especially on the right side, on the ribbon adorning the head, the eyes, the necklace, and the loincloth. Circular designs in yellow and black on a red background were also found on the stone slabs forming the walls.» |
Leaving Alto de los Idolos Archaeological Park |
See Also
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Neiva
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San Agustín Archaeological Park
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Alto de las Piedras Archaeological Park
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La Pelota - El Purutal
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