We explain what the Quimbaya culture was and where this ethnic group was located. In addition, what are its characteristics, economy and religion.
What is Quimbaya culture?
Quimbaya culture was An American native society that inhabited the Cauca River Valley, in the current Colombiabetween 500 a. C. and 1600 d. C. is recognized for the beauty of its production of gold and ceramic pieces, which are currently in the Quimbaya Gold Museum (Colombia) and the Museum of America (Spain).
The Quimbayas had a complex social organization, ordered around the figure of the chief. It is not known much about its history since they did not use any writing system. They developed agriculture and mining, and were specialists in pottery and goldsmiths. Its goldsmith production is recognized by the fine engraving and casting work, and the beauty of their modeling, which often took human and animal forms.
The “Treasury of the Quimbayas” is a set of gold pieces that belonged to a funeral trousseau. The pieces became famous because they were given to the queen of Spain at the end of the 19th century.
When the Spaniards arrived in America, the Quimbayas resisted domination through different rebellions, the most important of them in 1542. However, the insurrections were repressed and, as in most of the native cultures of the area, its population was decimated as a result of the oppression of the Spanish colonial system.
The term “Quimbaya” is a name given by the Spanish conquerors in the 16th century to the populations that inhabited the Middle Cauca region. The native population did not call itself with this name. In addition, in recent centuries, the term Quimbaya has been used to name an goldsmith style that, in reality, belonged to different populations of Valle del Cauca, of which Quimbayas were a single group.
See also: Andean civilizations
Temporary and geographical location of the Quimbaya culture
The Quimbaya culture developed in the Middle Cauca Valley, in the current Colombia. During its period of greater spatial and demographic extension, the Quimbayas inhabited the entire region between the right bank of the Cauca River (to the west) and the Andean Central Cordillera (to the east) and between the Quindío (to the south) and Guacaica (to the north) rivers. Their settlements were in the intermediate strip of this region, which was covered with marshes and cane.
Specialists divide the history of Quimbaya culture into two periods:
- Early or classic period (500 BC.-600 AD). In this first period, culture settled and developed agriculture, ceramic production and metal smelting. A predominant aspect was its high -level goldsmith development, which copied the shape of animals and objects of nature.
- Late period (800-1600 d. C.). After a two hundred years pause, the Quimbaya culture resumed its goldsmith production, but showing simple and schematic geometric figures. During this stage, cotton spinning and new ceramic styles in the Cauca region were popular. In 1539 the Spanish conquest of the American territories began and the Quimbayas starred in a fierce resistance, with two open rebellions in 1542 and 1557.
Quimbaya culture history
The oldest evidence of Quimbaya settlement in the Valle del Cauca date from the first millennium before Christ. Towards 500 a. C., the Quimbaya society began practicing agriculture and mining, and the first ceramic and goldsmith productions appeared.
Quimbayas artisans made gold pieces with human, animals and vegetable shapes. Some specialists argue that the figures of men and women could be identity symbols of their leaders. Other pieces were fertility symbol.
During the late period (800-1500 d. C.) The Quimbaya Society crossed different social changes. There was a large increase in the Quimbaya population and culture became more complex, it is estimated that during this period there began to be social differentiation and a political organization around the figure of a chief.
When the Spanish conquerors arrived in the Cauca region, the Quimbayas were a very large population. According to Spanish sources, in the region there were near eighty cacicazgos. Specialists estimate that, at that time, the Quimbaya population could have reached between 45,000 and 60,000 people.
Like most contemporary cultures, Quimbaya culture disappeared under the oppression of the domain of Spanish invaders. In 1542, the Quimbayas organized their first rebellion against Spanish domain, which was suffocated and repressed. In the following years, along with other native neighboring populations, the rebellions continued.
However, the parcel system established by the Spaniards and the constant repression of the resistance were decimating the Quimbaya population. It is estimated that twenty years after Spanish domination, The Quimbaya population had been reduced to 40 % and during the following decades it continued to descend until disappearing during the seventeenth century.
Quimbaya culture economy
The Quimbayas developed agriculture Around three essential crops: corn, beans and pumpkin. They also had cassava, avocado and guava plantations. In addition, they practiced the hunting of small animals, river fishing and tropical fruits collection.
Other important economic activities of Quimbaya society were gold mining (for goldsmith production) and ceramic production. On the other hand, specialists argue that there was a regional commercial network with the other peoples that inhabited the Middle Cauca.
Social organization of the Quimbaya culture
Throughout its history, the Quimbaya population was changing and, therefore, so did its social organization. With demographic growth, greater complexity appeared in the social framework and Stable forms of authority were developedcharacteristics of sedentary populations.
There was a complex social organization, with workers specialized in different activities. Due to the technical level of its production in goldsmiths and ceramics, it is believed that many Quimbayas workers were dedicated exclusively to artisanal production.
Through the study of burials and the amount of wealth found in some funerary trousseau, specialists argue that in the eighties Cacicazgos There were social positions of privilege.
Quimbaya ceramics
Quimbaya culture is especially known for its artisanal production in ceramics and gold. The production of ceramic vessels had very varied forms, with very detailed modeling and engraving jobs.
In addition to simple vessels, They made booths, glasses and double -peak pitchers, with anthropomorphic (human) and zoomorphas (animals). A distinctive vessel of the Quimbaya style was the “basket”, which took the form of a human figure carrying a vase stuck behind him.
The most common vessels with animal forms represented owls, pigeons and felines with coils. Among these pieces, archaeologists found some with the shape of chimeras, which combine characteristics of different animals.
During the late period, another simpler and more geometric decorative style appeared. The most characteristic motive of this style was a drawing of cross lines with points or crosses.
Quimbaya goldsmith
Like the rest of the populations in the Valle del Cauca region, The Quimbayas were great goldsmiths. They worked gold with different techniques and created all kinds of objects: earrings, necklaces, cane hoods and Poporos (glasses) were the most common. In addition, they made ornaments for the nose and ears, masks and pectorals of gold.
His goldsmith also took forms of human and animal nature. LMen used gold crowns and female bracelets in their armswith detailed engravings. The jewels had inlays of different precious stones, which they got through commercial exchange with other populations.
The pectorals were made of large sheets of almost pure gold and were decorated with embossed technique (relief drawing). The finest pieces were the small ones, which were molded through the foundry of metal and took the form of humans, birds and mythical beasts.
The Treasury of the Quimbayas
In 1891, a group of huaqueros (tomb search engines) found a set of burials near the La Soledad site, in the Valle del Cauca region. Two of the tombs had Funeral trousseau that had dozens of gold and tomba pieces (A gold and copper alloy). The president of Colombia of that time, gave the Queen of Spain a set of these jewels, which is known as “the Treasury of the Quimbaya.”
The gift consisted of 121 pieces that included a series of hollow human figures, modeled in a circular manner and that served as containers. Many vessels had drawings that represented the consumption of coca. There were also golden helmets and different jewels for the body.
It is not known exactly to what period in the history of the Quimbayas these goldsmith productions or the tombs where they were. Specialists estimate that it could be pieces produced between 500 and 800 d. C.
At the moment, The “Treasury of the Quimbayas” is located in the Museum of America, in Madrid, Spain.
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References
- Franch, Ja (2000). “Cultures of Colombia”. The pre -Columbian cultures of America. Editorial Alliance.
- Robledo-Martínez, FA (2015). “Cultural identity, social health and social status of law. The case ‘Treasure Quimbaya’ Quindío, Colombia”. Public Health Magazine, 17636-646.Uribe Villegas, Ma
- (1991). The late Quimbaya goldsmith: an investigation in the collection of the Gold Museum. Gold Museum – Banco de la República.
