The Earliest Occupation of Colombia: Balance and Perspectives at the Beginning of the 21st Century

Summary

In First Americans research in Colombia, the last three decades of the 20th Century were significant in terms of enthusiasm and motivation. Studies carried out by scholars such as Ruth Gruhn and Alan Bryan in Venezuela and other places were fundamental references for Colombian teams and encouraged advances in Pleistocene archaeology. Gonzalo Correal, Thomas Van der Hammen and Gerardo Reichel-Dolmatoff, among others, followed widely their contributions. Following Colombian generations of archaeologists discovered in the 90’s, new sites were discovered and new interpretations of site contexts were considered according to theoretical and methodological issues of the era. However, the balance in production and publications lacks continuity in the beginning of the 21st Century; there are few accomplishments despite a growing number of opportunities for developing studies. Overall, there has been a general increase in research on the first occupants of the Sub-Andean mountains, with interesting findings related to processes of initial horticulture in the Central and South West Colombian. But this trend has declined over the last decade. This presentation memorializes and acknowledges pioneers such as Ruth Gruhn, and promotes new opportunities for the future research of the amazing search of the first South Americans.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Alternative Perspectives on the Peopling of the New World: A Symposium in Honor of Ruth Gruhn, the "First Lady" of First Americans Studies   •
• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 17094