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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)
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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) |
