The discovery of the tomb of the cacique Guanentá, supreme head of Guane. Interview with researcher Colombian Alejandro Navas (Yuri Leveratto)

8 December 2009

The people of Amerindian Guane lived in the current Colombian department of Santander until the sixteenth century. Their area of influence was limited to the plateau called the "Mesa de los Santos" and Chicamocha River Canyon, a tributary of Sogamoso, which in turn flows into the Rio Magdalena.
Following a number of linguists studies it was concluded that the Guane spoke a language akin to the Chibcha and were therefore Meso-American origin.
They lived on agriculture (corn, cassava, beans), fisheries and trade with neighboring peoples. It is believed that interchange precious colorful cotton cloth, salt (abundant in the area of the plateau of Bogota, where he lived Muisca) and cocaine (which was located in areas adjacent to the Rio Magdalena, where he lived Yariguies).
In the recesses of the canyon of the Rio Chicamocha found some human remains were "mummified" due to the dry climate of the valley (such as those that can be seen at the Museum of Bucaramanga Bolivar). They were left with gold jewelry, tumbaga (an alloy of gold and copper), textiles and weapons so they can begin their "final journey".
The people Guane practiced cranial deformation in both vertical and occipital lobes. Some researchers believe that the skulls of some children were destined to play important roles in society were deformed with tight bandages for reasons of social stratification.
Another characteristic of the people Guane are cave paintings that can be observed in the canyon of Chicamocha and Mesa de los Santos. Many of them are abstract figures, zoomorphic, anthropomorphic. Some signs are rather repetitive, which may suggest a sort of picture writing, or the use of symbols to communicate or record a particular event.
The Spanish chronicler Juan de Castellanos in his work Elegy varones illustres de de Indias (Elegy of the illustrious men of the Indies), written in the late sixteenth century, we described the territory occupied by the people Guane upon arrival of the conquistadors. According to Castellanos was the cacique of Guane Guanentá, who tried to resist the advance of the Spaniards, but could do nothing against the devastating impact of the invaders.
The territory has been studied sporadically Guane by some scholars in the twentieth century, but has never been done a great job of framing, or detection of all archaeological sites (which are hundreds), and all the cave paintings and pictographs, log of the finds, dating and interpretation of accurate, so you can study each artifact in its historical context.
In recent years the Colombian researcher Alejandro Navas has done a wonderful study and analysis of archaeological sites and studied in depth an archaeological site (called the cave of the warrior), which could be identified as the tomb of the cacique Guanentá.

Here is the full text of the interview:

Yuri Leveratto: Can you tell us when he began the work of research and study of archaeological sites Guane?
Alejandro Navas: Our research work began privately five years ago when we realized we were serious problems than the looting of tombs Guane and continuing acts of vandalism to rock heritage of the region called Mesa de los Santos or Xerira, but unfortunately the 'State support in this direction has been absolutely zero and the costs of archaeological research have fallen entirely on us. Our work c'inorgoglisce recovery of archaeological heritage, and we also hope will serve as an example for other researchers and public institutions, so pay attention to this matter of great importance (both historical and national identity), and so that they can carry out their functions.
In our group there are people that specialize in different areas: there is a lawyer, a sociologist, a geologist, anthropologist, and various local guides. All of us worked together, in order to complete the recording and study of more than 50 archaeological sites, rock art, where we have cataloged about 1500 rock figures, technically documented. Throughout this paper we have taken about 10,000 photographs (in addition to various video), using the GPS (global positioning system) in order to give precise coordinates of each cave painting.
Yuri Leveratto: How important for you to study and interpretation of rock paintings in the context of archaeological research?
Alejandro Navas: Surely the rock art is one of the archaeological evidence which must be taken into account to study ethnicity, tribe or society. We think that these studies and research must be considered in a full context, where it is important to study a single figure or an object in itself, but in order to "contextualize" or put it in relation to other objects in order to understand in its entirety the ancient culture. In this sense, the rock art helps us understand the people who lived in a certain place, both in terms of mythology, which from the psychological, social and anthropological.
Interpretation of the cave paintings there is still much to be found, and our aim is precisely to initiate cognitive groups on the subject. We did what was more difficult to start, and quickly put our research on the web page www.ellibrototal.com so that anyone can access it.
Yuri Leveratto: She is only based on scientific research and also accepts the contribution that can be derived from mystical quest? Do you think that the collaboration of some mystics may be helpful in certain cases?
Alejandro Navas: In our studies, which are based on integral and holistic concepts, all the sciences, both exact and those which by definition can not yield a mathematically certain, must be taken into account.
When a researcher begins to study a certain subject, usually has some rather confused ideas, which, as you know more, are taking shape and clarify, especially when analyzing field data and studied archaeological sites. Then other questions arise generally, and often ends in order to observe other features of the site.
Usually there are few physical remains (skulls, skeletons, textiles, ceramics, etc.). But in the course of the research are experienced special feelings, some tactile, olfactory, visual, spoken with many people, listening to myths and legends of the area as well as other perceptions that begin to form in the mind of the researcher and then formed his conclusions. Only in this light the help of the mystical part of our research: Whereas only one of several means we have to reach the total understanding of the topic.
Yuri Leveratto: In the hole native of Bucaramanga (held on December 1 and 2), she claimed that the cave was used as the Warrior's tomb Guanentà cacique. Could you describe the cave indicating who went in for the first time and when? Also could you explain why it considers that it was the tomb of Guanentá?
Alejandro Navas: And 'hypothesis that we have brought to the attention of the public is the last event, the Indigenous Forum, and in other conferences that were held in the House of the Book Total of Bucaramanga. Fact that the cave of the Warrior is the tomb of the cacique Guanentà 9 clues that we have amply illustrated in the Indigenous Forum:
1-Rock Art: near the cave (located in the Mesa de los Santos), is a particular picture writing, which shows the fall of a human being in the abyss of the canyon, before the presence of the Spaniards represented as animals with eight legs (riders horse), coupled with this there is the myth of the death of Guanentá which is said to be launched into space during the fighting with the invaders.
2-The historical documents: the report of Juan de Castellanos (Elegia de varones illustres de Indias), which describes a kind of chaos (screaming, shouting, trumpets, etc..) Which was carried out by the other side of the canyon some indigenous (in the area of the trail called El Pozo), while the Spaniards were clashing with other natives in the area called Macaregua. Right next to Pozo, is the cave of the Warrior.
3-The place names: the area is also known as Pozo Tocaregua that according to some researchers it means: a place where you can overlook the river and the area (it is a strategic place to view the canyon Chicamocha).
4-The cave is located in a central location of the canyon, from where you can go down to fish. And 'one of the best areas to fish, and therefore took on a symbolic meaning.
5-Oral Traditions: According to legend, the cacique Guanentà is buried in front of the cave of the seven caves, which is Macaregua, just the opposite side of the Pozo or Cave of the Warrior.
6-Oral Traditions: According to legend, peasant, accompanied the funeral party to the cacique del Pozo area where his family, warriors and shamans were lost on the horizon. According to the myth, none of them came back and all died during the funeral.
7-oral traditions, always according to the beliefs of a peasant keys to find the tomb should be the presence of a large stone mill with seven concave parts. The farmers who first entered the cave, they found the mill to about 100 meters from the entrance. 8-The internal arrangement of the cavern in which it has been found numerous barriers (arrows, spears, stones), so that anyone could enter and plunder. All this suggests that the burial was done with the fear that the interior of the cave was plundered (and this makes us think that Guane well acquainted with the Spanish time).
9-The discovery of about 30 skeletons found in situ and their disposition and characteristics, suggests that the remains are those of the richest burial of a very important person, a cacique.
In addition to these clues will be very interesting to make tests of carbon-14 for some textile and bone fragments to determine the epoch in which the burial took place. Quite possibly it was Guanentá, but if not we are still faced with a great cacique Guane era.
Yuri Leveratto: When you realized your job search in the cave and what have you met inside?
Alejandro Navas: We have carried out archaeological excavations in the cave. We, however, that a reconstruction based on the testimony of some people who first entered the cave in the early years of this century. We visited the cave and the morgues, but we must add that, apart from the human remains (skeletons), collars, fabrics and arrows, you are not getting what once was part of dell'adorno cacique, because the cave is been sacked. We decided to reconstruct the historical reality of the indigenous Guane and most important tomb in the area so that the world may know and understand this important reality. We recognize that there may have been some inaccuracies in our reconstruction, but the purpose of all the work it is to stimulate new research.
Yuri Leveratto: In his new book "Los Guanes Xerirense y el Rock Art" (Guan and The rock art of the Mesa de los Santos), she describes the archaeological research he has done in the Mesa de los Santos and the canyon of the river Chicamocha . Can you tell us what are the most important points of his book? Why did you decide to load the entire book in www.ellibrototal.com website where everybody can read for free?
Alejandro Navas: The book "Los Guanes Xerirense y el Rock Art", written with the co-author Erika Marcela Angulo Moreno, is divided into two parts: the first is dedicated to Guan, their funerary rites, their clothes, to adorn, to arms of war and hunting, as well as the description of the ethnohistorical and character of this people. The second part is devoted to cataloging and record archaeological sites where there are cave paintings and pictographs. At this stage we have made some interpretative hypotheses on pictographs, and we also gave some guidelines because they are protected and enhanced in the future.
Yuri Leveratto: What is the ultimate goal of the Indigenous Forum which was organized at the headquarters of the total book?
Alejandro Navas: We think that in the department of Santander, as indeed throughout the country, it is necessary to reconsider the legacy of the natives, with the ultimate goal to know our origins and value our cultural heritage. In this regard, the Total Book Foundation in association with the Municipal Institute of Culture and Tourism decided to found and direct the first Forum of the Indigenous heritage of Santander. In this Forum we have tried to start the discussion should take place some time ago, which, added to the efforts of other researchers interested in the topic will build on the foundations which will give rise to future research, these spaces will be occasions where you have to protect, value, socialize, and democratize the knowledge of indigenous Department of Santander, with aims to create cohesion and social development from recognition of our identity.
Yuri Leveratto: Thanks for granting me this interview and good luck for future research.
Alejandro Navas: Thank you bye.