Archaeologists in Colombia have found an enormous treasure hoard that’s being associated to El Dorado, the legendary metropolis of gold. However these choices of gold, silver and Colombian emeralds don’t have anything to do with El Dorado, which was a creation of Sixteenth-century conquistador folklore.

Eight ceramic jars stuffed with gold, silver and Colombian emeralds have been found at an historic temple website in Colombia close to the capital metropolis of Bogotá. Whereas the media are associating the invention with the Sixteenth-century Spanish legend of the misplaced metropolis of gold, El Dorado, these are the truth is “Muisca” artifacts, not Spanish artifacts. Now that’s clear, let’s ask the query on the lips of a lot of you, who had been the Muisca?

The extremely large and priceless Colombian emeralds discovered within the 8-jar treasure hoard on the historic Muisca temple website on the sting of modern-day Bogotá. (Francisco Correa / Live Science)

A Temple Stuffed with Gold, Silver and A number of Colombian Emeralds

Initially the “ Mhuysqa” or “C hibcha” dominated the central Andean highlands of present-day Colombia from 800 AD till the arrival of Spanish conquistadors in 1537 AD. Mass-producing high quality materials and mining huge tonnages of salt, the Muisca imported watery-green emeralds from the close by mountains of Muzo, and all of those commodities had been traded with distant indigenous populations for gold.

As one of many 4 “excessive” civilizations of South America together with the Aztecs, Mayas and Incas, the Muisca additionally had superior metallurgic abilities. And so they crafted numerous gold and silver artifacts studded with Colombian emeralds.

Nonetheless, whereas in right now’s world these metals and stones have a high-monetary worth, that they had no financial worth by any means in Chibcha tradition. Subsequently, the 8-jar hoard discover is outlined as “treasure” by Western considering. Gold, silver and emeralds had been supplied by the Muisca to their gods and goddesses in lagoons, waterfalls, caves, and at temples. 

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Live Science reported that archaeologists in Colombia lately found a Muisca temple website with surrounding graves, the place they recovered eight ceramic jars often called “ofrendatarios.” Inside, they discovered metallic collectible figurines, often called tunjos, amongst a number of kilograms of uncommon Colombian emeralds.

One of many Muisca ceramic jars discovered outdoors Bogotá, Columbia, which contained numerous uncommon, uncut Colombian emeralds. (Francisco Correa / Live Science)

Gold For the Solar, Silver For His Spouse, the Moon 

The crew of excavators who uncovered the temple and graves close to the capital metropolis of Bogotá was led by archaeologist Francisco Correa, who makes a speciality of pre-construction work archaeology. Live Science stated 3D scans on the future development website recognized “forged gold and silver gadgets that resembled snakes and different animals.”

Moreover, human-shaped votive collectible figurines carrying cloths round their heads had been detailed “with weapons and ceremonial staffs” had been additionally discovered. Tellingly, the metallic figures had been found amongst tons of of huge, uncut Colombian emeralds and different semi-precious stones.

Correa advised Reside Science that the Muisca operated “a sort of cult of the ancestors.” The archaeologist additionally defined that the temple website and ofrendatarios can also be associated to deities worshipped by the Muisca together with, Sua, the god of the solar, and Chia, the goddess of the moon, who had been worshiped as husband and spouse. Gold was votively supplied to the yellow solar whereas silver was ritually given to the pale-grey moon.

The parable of El Dorado comes from this object and the legend behind it. The zipa or Muisca king used to cowl his physique in gold mud. And from his raft, he supplied treasures to the Guatavita goddess in the midst of the sacred lake. This outdated Muisca custom turned the origin of the legend of El Dorado. This Muisca raft determine is on show within the Gold Museum, Bogotá, Colombia. (Pedro Szekely / CC BY-SA 2.0)

Shattering the El Dorado Fantasy

Starting within the 1530s, Spanish conquistadors in Santa Marta, on Colombia’s Caribbean Coastline, heard rumors of a misplaced metropolis of gold hidden deep throughout the inside of New Granada. Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada y Rivera turned so obsessive about discovering El Dorado that he invaded the Muisca territories within the title of the king of Spain, wielding the sword of the Christian god in opposition to the picket golf equipment of the indigenous warriors. Inside 4 years of arriving in central New Granada in 1537 AD, the Spanish had sacked and plundered each temple website within the Muisca Confederation.

Having myself lived and explored in Colombia for the final 5 years I do know a factor or two about El Dorado. Solely three months in the past Discovery Channel’s Josh Gates joined me in Colombia on his personal seek for El Dorado. I launched Josh to my buddy Candil Mamanche, a frontrunner on the Lake Guativita indigenous neighborhood. He defined to Josh that the phrase El Dorado meant “Golden Man” – El (he) Dorado (golden). El Dorado was by no means a metropolis of gold, however a coronation ritual carried out at Lake Guatavita that culminated in a brand new ruler being lined in powdered gold and leaping from a raft into the water.

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The Muisca folks of Guatavita had been professional metallic employees they usually produced votive choices for all the Muisca Confederation. Because of this, and the truth that the sacred round lake hosted the El Dorado ceremony, the legend of a misplaced golden metropolis grew from the folklore and greed of the primary Spanish colonists.

Subsequently, the eight jars of treasure that had been lately found on the temple website in Colombia come from a time lengthy earlier than Quesada and his Spanish military marched throughout New Granada searching for a mythological metropolis of gold.

High picture: A closeup have a look at the treasure because it was present in one of many 8 jars: a combination of gold and silver Muisca craftwork and lots of large Colombian emeralds. Supply: Francisco Correa

By Ashley Cowie