Deep in the Colombian Andes, ancient rock shelters reveal the dawn of human settlement.

Countries & Cities · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: High on the Bogotá savanna, the El Abra rock shelters hold some of the earliest evidence of human life in the Americas. Dated to over 12,000 years ago, these caves served as a refuge for hunter-gatherers navigating the dramatic climate shifts of the late Pleistocene epoch.

Located at an altitude of 2,570 metres in the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes, the El Abra site consists of an extensive series of rock shelters. First researched in 1967, the site provided crucial evidence of human activity through the discovery of lithic instruments, animal bones, and vegetal charcoal. Radiocarbon dating of these findings established a settlement date of 12,400 ± 160 years BP. This period, known as the Fúquene stadial, was defined by a harsh, cold climate and páramo-like ecosystems.

As the climate warmed about 12,500 years ago, the return of Andean cloud forests and new animal species made hunting more efficient. During this time, inhabitants produced 'abriense' tools, such as flint implements and chopper cores. However, as conditions became more benign, the caves were gradually abandoned in favor of other settlements. By 11,000 BP, a new cooling phase led to further shifts in tool manufacturing, seen at sites like Tequendama, where quartzite tools and evidence of guinea pig domestication have been uncovered.

The transition from these early hunter-gatherer societies to more settled habits is marked by the eventual disappearance of abriense tools. By 5,000 BP, at sites like Aguazuque, archaeological evidence shows the establishment of agriculture on elevated terraces and the use of grinding stones. Today, while the western portion of the El Abra formation remains on private land, the eastern side in Tocancipá is accessible, serving both as a site for ongoing archaeological interest and as a challenging destination for modern rock climbers.

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