El Abra

Long ago, people lived in caves. These caves are in a big valley.

It is a very old place. People lived there many years ago.

At first, the land was very cold. Then the air got warm.

Warm air helped many animals live there. This made hunting easier.

People used stone tools to help them. They also used bones.

Now, people can visit the rocks. Some people even climb them.

El Abra is a special place in Colombia. It is a group of rock shelters and caves.

This site is very old. People lived there about 12,400 years ago. They were hunter-gatherers. This means they hunted animals and gathered plants for food.

At first, the land was very cold. This was called the Fúquene stadial. Later, the air grew warm. This change helped many animals return. It also made hunting easier for people. During this time, people made tools from flint. Flint is a hard stone. These tools are called abriense.

As time went on, the climate changed again. It became cold once more. Later, the weather became warmer around 10,000 years ago. People began to eat more plants and small animals. They slowly left the El Abra caves. They moved to other nearby areas.

By 5,000 years ago, people started farming. They grew food on flat steps called terraces. Today, people can visit the eastern part of the rocks. Some people even go there to climb.

El Abra is a very important archaeological site in Colombia. It is located in a valley in the Cundinamarca department. The site includes a series of rock shelters and caves. These caves are hundreds of meters long. They sit in the northern Bogotá savanna. This place is one of the first signs of humans living in the Americas. Scientists believe people settled here about 12,400 years ago.

Life at El Abra changed as the weather changed. Long ago, a time called the Fúquene stadial was very cold. During this time, the land had plants from páramo ecosystems. Later, the temperature rose during the Guantivá interstadial. This warmth brought back Andean cloud forests. Many animal species also returned to the area. This made it easier for people to hunt for food. People made special flint tools during this warm time. These tools are called abriense.

Researchers have studied these caves for many years. The first research happened in 1967. Later, Indiana University helped with deeper studies. In 1970, a Dutch group called NWO-WOTRO found four new sites. They looked at lake sediments to learn about the old climate. They found bones and charcoal in the layers of the earth. They used radiocarbon dating to find the age of the settlement. This helped them understand how people lived long ago.

Many different things were found at these ancient sites. At a place called Tibitó, people found bone tools. They also found remains of huge animals called megafauna. These included mastodons and the American horse. They even found deer bones near ritual sites. Near Tequendama, people found evidence of guinea pig farming. Around 5,000 years ago at Aguazuque, people started farming on terraces. They used grinding stones to help with their new way of life.

Today, El Abra is still a place of interest. You cannot visit the western part because it is private land. However, the eastern part in Tocancipá is open to people. This area is part of the Rocas de Sevilla. Many people go there to go rock climbing. There are about 20 climbing routes available. Climbing here can be harder than in Suesca. This is because the rock formation hangs over the climbers.

El Abra is a massive archaeological site located in Colombia. It sits in a valley within the Cundinamarca department. The site spans from the east of Zipaquirá to the west of Tocancipá. It consists of a long series of rock shelters and caves. These formations are several hundred meters long. They are found in the northern Bogotá savanna. This site provides some of the earliest evidence of human settlement in the Americas. Scientists date the settlement to approximately 12,400 ± 160 years BP. BP stands for Before Present.

Researchers use stratigraphy to study the history of the site. Stratigraphy is the study of layers in the earth. Scientists look at these layers to find lithic instruments and bones. They also find vegetal charcoal. By using radiocarbon dating on these items, they can determine the age of the site. The first research began in 1967. Later, Indiana University helped with deeper investigations. In 1970, the Dutch Foundation for the Advancement of Tropical Research discovered four new preceramic sites. They analyzed lacustrine sediments to understand the ancient climate and plants.

Climate changes shaped how people lived at El Abra. Between 15,000 and 12,500 years BP, the Fúquene stadial occurred. A stadial is a period of cold climate. During this time, the area had plants from páramo ecosystems. Around 12,500 years ago, the Guantivá interstadial began. An interstadial is a warmer period between cold stages. Temperatures rose and brought back the Andean cloud forest. This warmth allowed many animal species to return. Hunting became much easier for the people living there.

During the Guantivá interstadial, people created specific tools. These are known as abriense tools. They include flint tools and chopper cores. As the climate became more benign, the cave system was eventually abandoned. Later, the Tibitó stadial occurred around 11,400 years BP. Excavations near Tocancipá show bone tools and lithic instruments. They also found remains of Pleistocene megafauna. This includes mastodons like Haplomastodon waringi and Cuvieronius hyodon. They also found the American horse and deer. Some deer bones showed traces of ritual ceremonies.

The El Abra stadial arrived around 11,000 years BP. This was another period of cooling. The forests receded and glaciations extended again. During this time, the Tequendama site in Soacha showed different tools. These are called Tequendamenses tools. They have a smoother manufacture. Some were made from quartzite brought from the Magdalena River valley. At Tequendama, researchers found evidence of people domesticating guinea pigs. This shows how humans were beginning to change their relationship with animals.

Around 10,000 years BP, the Holocene epoch began. The last glaciation ended and Andean forests returned. Human activity changed during this time. Lithic instruments show that people spent more time recollecting. They consumed more rodents and vegetables. They hunted fewer large animals. The El Abra caves were gradually abandoned. People moved to other places like Nemocón or Checua. By 5,000 years BP, agriculture was established at Aguazuque. People used elevated terraces and grinding stone instruments. The older abriense tools disappeared during this period.

Today, El Abra is a place for both history and sport. The western part of the rock formation is on private land. Therefore, access to that area is restricted. However, the eastern area in Tocancipá is open to the public. This part of the site is known as the Rocas de Sevilla. It is a popular destination for rock climbing. There are about 20 organized climbing routes. These routes are considered challenging. They are more difficult than the famous routes in Suesca. This is because the rock formation is overhanging.