Archaeology Under the Jungle Vines

A day in the life of the Last Journey project

By University of Antioquia

Francisco Javier Aceituno

Cerro AzulUniversity of Antioquia

The first step for The Last Journey

The Last Journey is an interdisciplinary project that explores Late Pleistocene/Early Holocene human adaptations and impacts across the diverse landscapes of northwest South America. In November 2021, the archaeologists of the Last Journey walked to Cerro Azul, Colombia.

Aerial view of Cerro AzulUniversity of Antioquia

Cerro Azul, San José del Guaviare, Serranía de la Lindosa

The entrance to Cerro Azul is a moment of great concentration and emotion for archaeologists. It means coming into a landscape, thousands of years old. Are the spirits of the jungle watching?

Examining the paintings on the rock of La Lindosa (2017)University of Antioquia

Voices from the past

The paintings are more than just drawings. For archaeologists, they are the voices of the past, fossilised in the majestic stone walls of the Lindosa. Why did they paint the jungle, what messages do they contain? Many questions, elusive answers. 

Rock art drawingsUniversity of Antioquia

Panel Lindosa 6University of Antioquia

Deciphering the past

As there is no Rosetta Stone to provide a direct translation, archaeologists deploy all their methods, skills, and experience, to create a dialogue with the paintings, to comprehend the mysteries behind each brushstroke. 

Rock art panelUniversity of Antioquia

Sharing knowledge

All indications are that the Pre-Hispanic artists of the Lindosa used rock painting to document their ancestral knowledge, such as cosmovisions (perception of the world), ritual dances, games, shamans, and myths, among many other things.

Archaeologists at workUniversity of Antioquia

Digging, finding, logging

As the team works through the layers of the past, artefacts and evidence of human life is documented. This process is repeated over and over carefully checking each strata to ensure accuracy.

Removing layers of EarthUniversity of Antioquia

Household goods

With the delicacy and precision the archaeologists meticulously remove the layers of earth that have preserved the remains where the ancestors lived. Here is a preserved food vessel.

Examining soilUniversity of Antioquia

Everything is examined

The soil is cleaned, samples are collected in search of tiny traces, that provide evidence as to where our ancestors ate, rested, talked around a fire and finally slept.

End of the Day Conversation and PlanningUniversity of Antioquia

Time for a break

At the end of the day the team discusses the findings of the day, and then relax, because it starts all over again tomorrow.

Credits: Story

This field season (2017) was funded by the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History, the University of Antioquia and the University National of Colombia. Thanks to all members who made possible the excavation of Cerro Azul. Gaspar Morcote, Javier Aceituno, Sneider Rojas, Jeisson Chaparro, Valentín Castellanos, William Rojas, Benito Vanegas and the Rojas family for their hospitality and collaboration during the excavation.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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Ancient rock art in Colombia
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