National Archaeological Park of Tierradentro

Tierradentro National Archaeological Park is well-known for its pre-Columbian hypogea, which have been discovered in different excavations and archeological sites.

The traditional hypogeum features a west-facing entrance, a spiral staircase, and the main chamber that is normally 5 to 8 meters below ground level, with several smaller rooms surrounding it, each containing a body. Geometric, anthropomorphic, and zoomorphic patterns in red, black, and white are painted on the walls. Due to grave robbery before the hypogea were designated as protected places, only a few statues, pottery shards, and fabrics can be observed.

The park features many hypogea dating from the 6th to the 10th century, as well as some monumental statues of human beings. The interiors of these massive underground tombs (some burial chambers are up to 12 m wide) are painted with patterns that resemble the interior decor of medieval residences. They shed light on a pre-Hispanic society's social complexity and cultural wealth in the northern Andes.

The National Archaeological Park of Tierradentro provides a window into the lives and culture of the inhabitants before Spanish colonialism, allowing visitors to delve further into Colombia's rich past. The park, which is located in Colombia's Cauca province, contains many intact hypogea (subterranean chambers) that are filled with engravings and artifacts that depict social and cultural aspects of life from the sixth to ninth centuries. These unearthed treasures are one-of-a-kind in terms of size and architectural complexity, with enormous rooms, curved walls, and even staircases.

Location: Inza, Cauca, Colombia