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 Location: Sierra Navada de Santa Marta, Colombia.  Grid Reference: 11.038� N, 73.92� W.

 

      Ciudad Perdida: (The 'Lost Citadel').

The Ciudad Perdida, which means 'Lost City', was re-discovered in 1972 and includes more than 200 structures in an area of approximately thirty hectares (80 Acres). The sructures include dwellings of various size, terraces, stone-lined paths and staircases, plazas, ceremonial and feasting areas, canals and storehouses. In comparison to the other 26 settlements found in the upper region of the Buritaca river basin, it appears to be the largest of the Tayrona sites and is believed to be the centre of Tayrona political, social and economic power. (1)

(Click here for map)

 

 

   La Ciudad Perdida: (The lost City)

 

La Ciudad Perdida or �Lost City� is one of archaeology�s largest finds this century, discovered in the 70�s by treasure hunters, it is thought to have been founded around 600 AD (Also claimed to have been founded as early as 5th century BC (2)). Like its neighbour Machu Picchu, the city was built up high, on terraces cut out of the mountains and could only be reached by climbing thousands of steps thorough thick jungle and crawling through carved tunnels (apparently so that the locals could hear people approaching.)

Ciudad Perdida was discovered in 1972 when group of local treasure looters found a series of stone steps rising up the mountainside and followed them to an abandoned city. They named it "Green Hell". When its gold figurines and ceramic urns begun to appear in the local black market, authorities revealed the site in 1975.

Members of local tribes - the Arhuaco, the Kogi and the Assario - have stated that they had visited it regularly but kept quiet about it. To them is it Teyuna, the heart of a network of villages inhabited by their forebears, the Tairona. It was probably the region's political and manufacturing center on the Buritaca River and may have housed 2000 - 8000 people. It was apparently abandoned during the Spanish conquest.

It is believed that there are many other undiscovered ruins scattered throughout this region of Colombia.

 

Photo Gallery: La Ciudad Perdida.

 

This stone is believed to have a map of the region carved on its face.

Some of the 16,000 stairs one has to climb in order to reach the 'Lost City'

 

 

(Other Pre-Columbian Sites)

 

 

References:

1). http://www.globalheritagefund.com/images/uploads/projects/ciudadperdida_2pager.pdf
2). http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Ciudad_Perdida
 
 

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