San Agustin archeological park

Welcome, historians, archaeologists, and seekers of ancient mysteries, to the profound and enigmatic expanse of the San Agustin Archaeological Park. Situated in the upper basin of the magnificent Magdalena River, cradled between…

Before we delve into the statues themselves, it is essential to understand how this lost world was brought to the attention of modern scholarship. For centuries after the mysterious decline of the Augustinian culture around the…

Let us now approach one of the magnificent megalithic sculptures that define San Agustin. Some of these stones tower over eight feet tall, carved masterfully from a single, massive block of volcanic rock. …

As we move among the artifacts, our attention is drawn to a large, intricately carved rock bearing the unmistakable, undulating form of a snake. In the rich tapestry of Augustinian mythology, the serpent was not a creature of…

We now step onto one of the four main plateaus, or 'mesas', that comprise the core of the archaeological park. To the untrained eye, the rolling topography of these mesas might appear entirely natural, but it is, in fact, the…

We now descend to one of the most astonishing and complex archaeological features in the entire park: the Fuente de Lavapatas, or the Lavapatas Fountain. Discovered in nineteen thirty-seven by the archaeologist Jose Perez, this…

Our final specialized exploration takes us through the deeply evocative ecological trail known as the Bosque de las Estatuas, or the Forest of Statues. This area is unique within the park. …

As we conclude our journey through the San Agustin Archaeological Park, we must pause to visit the Luis Duque Gomez House Museum, named in honor of the tireless Colombian archaeologist. Here, the smaller, more delicate…