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The San Agustin region is
located in the upper Magdalena River valley and is framed by the Central
and Eastern Cordilleras. As the site of the most striking progression of
monumental statuary, this part of Colombia has long attracted the
attention of social scientists. The ethnic history of the region has
been interpreted based on two different chronologies. One of them,
established by Luis Duque Gomez and Julio Cesar Cubillos, postulates the
theory of continuous development separated into an Archaic period. from
3300 to 1000 B.C., a Formative period divided in two phases: (Inferior,
from 1000 to 300 B.C_ and superior. from 200 B.C. to 200 A.D.), a
Regional Classical period from 300 A.D. and a Recent period from 800
A.D. until the arrival of the Spaniards. The other chronological theory
was developed by Gerardo Reichel-Dolmatoff. According to this
archaeologist there might have been three principal phases, marked by
abrupt changes indicating the arrival of different peoples. These stages
are defined as: Horqueta, the beginnings are undecipherable but it ends
in 50 A.D.; Isnos, from 50 to 400 A.D., and Sornbrerillos from 1400 to
1650 A.D. The two opinions coincide on some significant points. Firstly,
that the development of monumental architecture, one of the most
characteristic remains of the region. corresponds to eras prior to the
Spanish incursion. Duque and Cubillos place the statuary's maximum level
of development within the Regional Classical period. from 300 to 800
A.D., while Reichel-Dolmatoff has determined the highest development to
have occurred between 50 to 400 A.D.. during the Isnos phase. Secondly,
they concur that the builders of the mounds and statuary belong to
population phases associated with an era during which the local economy
was heavily dependent upon the cultivation of maize.
An initial period of maize cultivation would have placed enormous
emphasis on 'monumentality', then later, in the last few centuries prior
to the conquest, emphasis would have shifted to the serial production of
more commonplace objects.
Goldworking development follows along these same lines. In various parts
of the region, hammered gold tubular and round necklace beads, diadems,
wires, nose ornaments, gold rings with stone beads, H shaped diadems and
gold covered seashells have been discovered throughout the region in
association mound burials. These objects, which correspond to the
statuary development, reflect ties with Calima, southern Imabaya and
Tolima goldwork developments. On the other hand, the discovery of
smelted drops of gold and fragments of golden sun rays in addition to
the presence of alluvial gold in the regions's rivers - particularly
Manzanares and Sombrerillos - point to the local production of. Those
metallic objects.
The last phase of San Agustin goldworking is poorly documented. However,
the few existing references suggest the elaboration of turnbaga nose
rings. In other words, once again the large, spectacular hammered gold
pieces disappear, being replaced by the production of large quantities
of smaller objects. using the lost wax process. |
