Archaeologists have uncovered 15 burials with the remains of a pre-Hispanic indigenous community on the grounds of the Pedagogical and Technological University of Colombia (UPTC) located in the city of Tunja in Northern Colombia.
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Credit: UPTC - Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia |
The burials, which are believed to date back over 500 years, were found approximately 50 centimetres deep over an area of 1,500 square metres on the University grounds. About 500 kg of ceramic and lithic remains were also recovered at the site.
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Credit: UPTC - Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia |
According to archaeologists, the characteristics of the findings suggest the remains belong to the Muisca people, who occupied the Andean Highland region of Colombia prior to the arrival of the Spaniards in 1537. There is a population of around 14,000 indigenous Muiscans still living in present-day Colombia.
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Credit: UPTC - Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia |
Anthropologist working on the site Fabian Alvarez said: “We have the footprints, the vestiges of the footprints of the house and the graves of the people who probably lived here. Once we have cleaned and classified all these findings, they will help us answer a lot of questions.”
The findings will be given to the UPTC’s forensic laboratory, where they will be analysed for scientific purposes.
Source: UPTC - Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia [November 05, 2019]
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