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.
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.
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.
