2024-07-04 01:23:14
Ecopetrol reported the discovery of more than 3,000 archaeological elements in the municipalities of Acacías and Guamal, in the department of Meta. These findings were made during excavations in Cluster 66 and Cluster 8b, located in the company’s 50k field.
In total, the company has identified more than 27 archaeological sites located mainly on terraces near the Acacías, Orotoy, Humadea and Ariari rivers. Among the findings are scattered ceramic fragments and hundreds of archaeological evidence from the Guayupe community, one of the pre-Columbian ethnic groups that inhabited the region.
In Cluster 66, located in the municipality of Guamal, vestiges of domestic use have been discovered, such as kitchens and houses.The ceramic pieces found show traces of soot and smoke, indicating their use in everyday activities. In addition, in Cluster 8b of Acacias, five ceramic vessels, unique stone pieces and stone carvings were found.
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Igor Martínez Beltrán, an archaeologist from Ecopetrol’s Environmental Management and Relations Department, stressed that “once the archaeological work is finished, analyses will be carried out to contextualize the findings over time. In parallel to the field and laboratory activities, Ecopetrol is developing a plan to disseminate the results with local communities to raise their awareness about the protection of archaeological heritage and to involve local administrations in the management of ownership and conservation of the recovered assets.”
The Guayupe inhabited the southeast of the Eastern Plains when the Spanish arrived in the 16th century. Archaeological research since the 1980s has expanded their area of influence to the Guayabero, Ariari and Orotoy rivers. It is known that they lived approximately 2,000 years ago, dedicating themselves to agriculture, hunting and fishing. They were specialists in pottery and had complex funerary practices.
These findings are added to those recorded in areas of the Castilla, Chichimene and CPO-9 fields, where Ecopetrol has operations.
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