San Agustín, Archaeological municipality in Huila, Colombia.
San Agustín is a municipality in southern Colombia with over 500 stone statues scattered across multiple sites. These figures depict people and animals and were carved from volcanic rock.
The municipality was founded in 1790 after earlier settlement attempts failed due to conflicts with indigenous groups. The stone statues, however, come from a much older population that lived here long before Spanish colonization.
The statues reveal burial practices and spiritual beliefs of the people who lived here long ago. Walking through the sites, you can observe how these figures reflect the religious worldview and social structures of ancient times.
The area sits in a mountainous region at about 1,730 meters (5,676 feet) elevation with a wet climate and frequent rainfall. Visitors should prepare for damp conditions and wear sturdy footwear, as paths to the sites can become muddy.
The large stone statues were originally painted with vivid colors, including yellow, red, black, and white. Today these painted layers have mostly faded, but traces of the original pigments remain visible on some figures.
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