View source for Checua

{{Short description|Early archaeological site in Colombia}}
{{Infobox ancient site
| name           = Checua
| native_name    = 
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| map_type       = Colombia
| map_alt        = 
| map_caption    = Location within Colombia
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| altitude_m     = 2577
| altitude_ref   = <ref>[https://www.freemaptools.com/elevation-finder.htm Google Maps Elevation Finder]</ref>
| relief         = 1
| coordinates    = {{coord|5|07|12.1|N|73|52|35.3|W|display=inline,title}}
| map_dot_label  =
| location       = [[Nemocón]], [[Cundinamarca Department|Cundinamarca]]
| region         = [[Bogotá savanna]]<br />[[Altiplano Cundiboyacense]]<br />{{COL}}
| type           = Open area settlement
| part_of        = [[List of Muisca and pre-Muisca sites|Pre-Muisca sites]]
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| epochs         = [[Andean preceramic|Preceramic]]
| cultures       = Preceramic
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| archaeologists = [[Ana María Groot]]<ref name=Groot1992_p9>Groot de Mahecha, 1992, p.9</ref>
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'''Checua''' is a [[Andean preceramic|preceramic]] open area [[List of Muisca and pre-Muisca sites|archaeological site]] in [[Nemocón]], [[Cundinamarca Department|Cundinamarca]], [[Colombia]]. The site is located {{convert|7|km|mi}} north of the town centre.<ref name=Groot1992_p9/><ref name=GomezMejia_p146>Gómez Mejía, 2012, p.146</ref> At Checua, thousands of stone and bone tools, stone flakes and human remains have been found, indicating human occupation from around 8500 to 3000 years [[Before Present|BP]].

Main [[List of Muisca scholars|archaeologist]] for Checua is [[Ana María Groot]], who published the results of her research in 1992.<ref name=Groot1992>Groot de Mahecha, 1992</ref>

== Background ==
{{Location map+ | Bogotá savanna
| width   = 330
| caption = Checua and other preceramic sites on the [[Bogotá savanna]]
| places  =
  {{Location map~ | Bogotá savanna
  | lat_deg = 5.120028
  | lon_deg = -73.876472
  | marksize = 12
  | mark = Yellow pog.svg
  }}
  {{Location map~ | Bogotá savanna
  | lat_deg = 4.602222
  | lon_deg = -74.276389
  | mark = White pog.svg
  | label   = [[Aguazuque|{{white|Aguazuque}}]]
  | position = right
  }}
  {{Location map~ | Bogotá savanna
  | lat_deg = 4.690556
  | lon_deg = -74.274722
  | mark = White pog.svg
  | label   = [[Lake Herrera|{{white|Lake&nbsp;Herrera}}]]
  | position = top
  }}
  {{Location map~ | Bogotá savanna
  | lat_deg = 4.535117
  | lon_deg = -74.275686
  | mark = White pog.svg
  | label   = [[Tequendama|{{white|Tequendama}}]]
  | position = left
  }}
}}
The Altiplano Cundiboyacense has been inhabited at least since 12,500 years ago. The first human settlers migrated via the [[Darién Gap]] from Central America to South America and led a [[hunter-gatherer]] lifestyle. They populated the rock shelters of the high plateau in the Andes, then still with abundant [[Pleistocene megafauna]] as ''[[Cuvieronius]]'', ''[[Haplomastodon]]'', ''[[Equus amerhippus]]'' and [[giant sloth]]s.

During this [[Andean preceramic|preceramic]] phase, the population shifted from rock shelters to open area settlement, of which [[Galindo, Colombia|Galindo]] and Checua are among the oldest. A later site in [[Soacha]], Cundinamarca; [[Aguazuque]] is comparable to Checua.

During the second millennium before present, the population increased and settlements became bigger. This is evidenced in the findings at the [[Muisca economy#Mining|salt mine]] of Nemocón.<ref name=Groot1992_p7>Groot de Mahecha, 1992, p.7</ref>

== Description ==
[[File:Invernaderos Nemocón.JPG|thumb|325px|right|The '''landscape around Nemocón''' is hilly with flat valleys. Checua is an open area settlement, located north of the urban centre]]

=== Geology ===
Checua is located in a valley of the [[Altiplano Cundiboyacense]] and its geology is determined by the [[Andean orogeny]]. Checua lies in the middle of a rich [[halite]] area, with salt mines in Nemocón, [[Zipaquirá]] and [[Tausa]] surrounding the site. The sedimentary sequence consists of the oldest outcropping units of the [[Villeta Group]] of [[Early Cretaceous]] age. This sequence is followed by the sandstone formations of the [[Guadalupe Group]], [[Late Cretaceous]] in age. Overlying the [[Mesozoic]] section is the [[Maastrichtian]] to [[Paleocene]] [[Guaduas Formation]]. Due to the Andean tectonic movements, most of the Tertiary section is eroded or non-deposited and the Guaduas Formation is overlain by the [[Pleistocene]] [[Sabana Formation]].<ref name=Groot_p11>Groot de Mahecha, 1992, p.11</ref>

=== Climate ===
The climate of the area around Checua is constant throughout the year with an average maximum temperature of {{convert|21.9|C|F}} and an average minimum of {{convert|3.05|C|F}}. The yearly precipitation varies from {{convert|600|mm|in}} to {{convert|750|mm|in}}, mostly in short erosional showers. The winds can be strong and aid the erosive process of the water.<ref name=Groot_p12>Groot de Mahecha, 1992, p.12</ref>

=== Vegetation ===
The vegetation was of a lower altitude dry forest type with native species ''[[Dodanae viscosa]]'', ''[[Baccharis]] sp.'', ''[[Prunus capuli]]'', ''[[Xilosma speculiferum]]'', ''[[Duratana mutissi]]'', ''[[Lupinus]] sp.'', [[dividivi]] (''Tara spinosa''), ''[[Solanum]] sp.'', ''[[Hesperolemes heterophyla]]'' and [[fique]] (''Agave sp.'').<ref name=Groot_p13>Groot de Mahecha, 1992, p.13</ref>

=== Stone tools ===
[[File:Raedera.png|thumb|right|325px|Lithic '''scraper''' tool]]
The Checua site has been divided into nine stratigraphical units of sands and clays.<ref name=Groot_p17>Groot de Mahecha, 1992, p.17</ref> More than 1750 lithic tools have been found in the units, with a highest frequency in units 4 and 5b. They mostly consist of scrapers and knives. Furthermore, 2820 stone flakes, interpreted as materials to build tools have been discovered, with a highest frequency in unit 8.<ref name=Groot_p28>Groot de Mahecha, 1992, p.28</ref>

=== Bone tools ===
Various bone tools have been found in Checua. The type is very similar to those found at [[Aguazuque]] and [[Tequendama]]. Apart from tools, also a [[Muisca music|musical instrument]] made from bone has been uncovered. This bone [[flute]] was discovered in stratigraphic unit 5b at a depth of {{convert|60|cm|ft}}.<ref name=Groot_p56>Groot de Mahecha, 1992, p.56</ref>

=== Tooth enamel ===
Dating of the [[tooth enamel]] of one of the remains, using [[Electronic Paramagnetic Resonance]] (EPR), provided an age of 7850 ± 190 years BP.<ref name=Sandoval_p251>Sandoval & Almanza, 2012, p.251</ref> Using the same method, in 2014 another tooth enamel was analysed, providing an age of 5021 ± 202 years BP.<ref name=Carvajal_p128>Carvajal et al., 2014, p.128</ref>

== Human occupation phases ==
[[File:Dösendes Hausmeerschweinchen.JPG|thumb|right|325px|As at Tequendama and Aguazuque, abundant remains of the domesticated '''guinea pig''' have been found at Checua]]
Analysis of the various stratigraphic levels and the tools found, led to the identification of four zones of human occupation within a total time span of 5500 years (6500–1000 years BCE).<ref name=Groot_p61>Groot de Mahecha, 1992, p.61</ref> The first zone, dated to about 8500 to 8200 years BP, contains mostly scrapers and perforators used for the elaboration of meat and animal skins. The second zone of occupation, lasting from about 8200 to 7800 years BP, consists of various [[Muisca mummification|burial sites]].<ref name=Groot_p6477>Groot de Mahecha, 1992, p.64-77</ref> Here, also scrapers and perforators were found, together with the main ingredients of the [[Muisca cuisine|diet]] of the people; [[white tailed deer]] and [[guinea pig]].<ref name=Groot_p66>Groot de Mahecha, 1992, p.66</ref> In this zone, the bone flute has been unearthed.<ref name=Groot_p76>Groot de Mahecha, 1992, p.76</ref> The third level corresponds to the seventh stratigraphical unit where many bone fragments were found. The unit has been compared to Aguazuque for dating at around 5000 years BP, possibly lasting till 4000 years BP.<ref name=Groot_p80>Groot de Mahecha, 1992, p.80</ref> As is the case with Aguazuque, the fourth and uppermost zone has been disturbed by modern [[Muisca agriculture|agricultural activities]] and the presence of glass indicates contamination with postcolonial influence. A top age for the sequence has not been provided, but an occupation until 3000 years BP is suggested.<ref name=Groot_p83>Groot de Mahecha, 1992, p.83</ref>

{{Timeline of inhabitation of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|History|Colombia|Indigenous peoples of the Americas}}
*[[List of Muisca and pre-Muisca sites]]
*[[Aguazuque]], [[Tequendama]], [[Tibitó]], [[Nemocón]]
*[[El Abra]], [[Ana María Groot]]

== References ==
{{reflist|20em}}

=== Bibliography ===
* {{citation |last1=Carvajal |first1=Eduar |last2=Montes |first2=Luis |last3=Almanza |first3=Ovidio A. |year=2014 |title=Datación de restos arqueológicos encontrados en Checua (Cundinamarca - Colombia) mediante resonancia paramagnética electrónica |journal=Rev. Acad. Colomb. Cienc. |volume=38 |issue=47 |pages=124–129 |language=es}}
* {{citation |last=Gómez Mejía |first=Juliana |year=2012 |title=Análisis de marcadores óseos de estrés en poblaciones del Holoceno Medio y Tardío incial de la sabana de Bogotá, Colombia - Analysis of bone stress markers in populations of the Middle and Late Holocene of the Bogotá savanna, Colombia |journal=Revista Colombiana de Antropología |volume=48 |pages=143–168 |doi=10.22380/2539472X.1019 |language=es }}
* {{citation |last=[[Ana María Groot|Groot de Mahecha]] |first=Ana María |year=1992 |title=Checua: Una secuencia cultural entre 8500 y 3000 años antes del presente - Checua: a cultural sequence between 8500 and 3000 years before present |publisher=[[Bank of the Republic (Colombia)|Banco de la República]] |url=http://www.banrepcultural.org/blaavirtual/fian/monografias/checua-una-secuencia-cultural |pages=1–95 |accessdate=2016-07-08}}
* {{citation |last1=Sandoval |first1=J.A. |last2=Almanza |first2=O. |year=2012 |title=Datación de esmalte dental prehispánico proveniente del sitio arqueológico Checua (Cundinamarca) por resonancia paramagnética electrónica (EPR) - Dating of Tooth Enamel from the Archeological Site Checua (Cundinamarca) by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) |journal=[[Revista Colombiana de Física]] |volume=44 |issue=3 |publisher=Sociedad Colombiana de Física |pages=248–252 |language=es}}

== Further reading ==
* {{citation |last=[[Gonzalo Correal Urrego|Correal Urrego]] |first=Gonzalo |year=1990 |title=Aguazuque: Evidence of hunter-gatherers and growers on the high plains of the Eastern Ranges |location=Bogotá, Colombia |publisher=Banco de la República: Fundación de Investigaciones Arqueológicas Nacionales |url=http://admin.banrepcultural.org/sites/default/files/aguazuque_completo_terminado_baja.pdf |pages=1–316 |language=es |accessdate=2016-07-08}}
* {{citation |last=[[Ana María Groot|Groot de Mahecha]] |first=Ana María |year=2014 |orig-year=2008 |title=Sal y poder en el altiplano de Bogotá, 1537-1640 |publisher=[[National University of Colombia|Universidad Nacional de Colombia]] |pages=1–174 |isbn=978-958-719-046-5 |language=es}}

{{Archaeological sites in Colombia}}
{{Muisca navbox|Geography and history|state=expanded}}

[[Category:Former populated places in Colombia]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Cundinamarca Department]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense]]
[[Category:Altiplano Cundiboyacense]]
[[Category:Andean preceramic]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Colombia]]