Archaeological Pottery in San Agustín and Tierradentro
San Agustín and Tierradentro live not only in the rock and the landscape, but in every fragment of clay that time has not erased.
Location San Agustín and Tierradentro (2025) by ICANHInstituto Colombiano de Antropología e Historia – ICANH
In the southwestern region of Colombia, nestled among misty mountains and rivers, lie two of the country’s most important archaeological parks: San Agustín and Tierradentro, both renowned for their funerary structures.
National Archeological Park of Tierradentro (2024) by ICANHInstituto Colombiano de Antropología e Historia – ICANH
Tierradentro
Tierradentro Archaeological Park is best known for its hypogea—impressive subterranean burial chambers intricately carved into the rock.
San Agustin Archaeological Park (2023) by Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History – ICANH, Communications Team.Instituto Colombiano de Antropología e Historia – ICANH
San Agustín
Meanwhile, the San Agustín Archaeological Park stands out for its remarkable collection of pre-Hispanic stone sculptures.
llustration of Pre-Hispanic Pottery from Tierradentro (Cauca, Colombia) (2019) by David Guarnizo and Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History – ICANH.Instituto Colombiano de Antropología e Historia – ICANH
However, ceramics—also a fundamental component of these cultural narratives—are rarely highlighted, despite their importance in understanding the daily life, beliefs, and artistic expressions of these ancient societies.
Pre-Hispanic Pot (2021) by Javier Ramirez La Rotta and Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History – ICANH, Cerarco TeamInstituto Colombiano de Antropología e Historia – ICANH
Archaeological archive
Each ceramic piece forms part of an invaluable archaeological record that not only documents production techniques and decorative styles but also helps reconstruct the technological, symbolic, and social aspects of the pre-Hispanic cultures that created them.
Illustration of tomb section - Tierradentro archaeological park (2019) by David GuarnizoInstituto Colombiano de Antropología e Historia – ICANH
More Than Just Utensils
In San Agustín and Tierradentro, pottery served purposes beyond the utilitarian.
It was part of daily practices—such as cooking, storing, or serving—but was also present in rituals and burials as offerings.
Pre-Hispanic pottery (2021) by Javier Ramirez La Rotta and Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History – ICANH, Cerarco TeamInstituto Colombiano de Antropología e Historia – ICANH
Thinking with the Hands
Both in Tierradentro and San Agustín, there is evidence of advanced knowledge of the material and a distinctive aesthetic. Detailed decoration is common: incisions, zoomorphic appliqués, painting, and other elements that reflect the connection between technique and worldview.
Pre-Hispanic Zoomorphic Bird Figure (2021) by Javier Ramirez La Rotta and Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History – ICANH, Cerarco TeamInstituto Colombiano de Antropología e Historia – ICANH
For archaeology, pottery is one of the main sources of information about the past: durable, abundant, and easily datable. It has helped establish chronologies, identify styles, and understand exchanges between human groups.
Contemplating the Urns of San Agustín (1937) by Gregorio Hernández de AlbaInstituto Colombiano de Antropología e Historia – ICANH
A Window to the Past
Pottery is a time capsule that connects us with ways of inhabiting the world and understanding the territory.
Still life of archaeological pottery (2023) by Javier Ramirez La Rotta and Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History – ICANHInstituto Colombiano de Antropología e Historia – ICANH
Discover Colombian Ceramics
Explore exceptional pieces from San Agustín, Tierradentro, and other regions of Colombia A testament to the creativity and cultural expression of the country’s ancient inhabitants. Click here to access the digital catalog.
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