Muisca Confederation

For other uses of "Muisca", see Muisca (disambiguation).

The Muisca Confederation was a loose confederation of different Muisca rulers (zaques, zipas, iraca, and tundama) in the central Andean highlands of what is today Colombia before the Spanish conquest of northern South America. The area, presently called Altiplano Cundiboyacense, comprised the current departments of Boyacá, Cundinamarca and minor parts of Santander.

Muisca Confederation
~1450–1540
Muisca Confederation on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense Zaque rule in yellow Zipa rule in green Independent territories in red
Capital	Hunza and Funza (Bacatá) (~1450–1540)
Common languages	Muysccubun
Religion	Muisca religion
Zaque and zipa
• ~1450–1470	zaque Hunzahúa zipa Meicuchuca
• 1470–1490	zaque Saguamanchica zipa Michuá
• 1490–1537 1490–1514	zaque Quemuenchatocha zipa Nemequene
• 1514–1537	zipa Tisquesusa
• 1537–1540 1537–1539	zaque Aquiminzaque zipa Sagipa
Historical era	Pre-Columbian
• Established	~1450
• Spanish conquest begins	March 1537
• Conquest of Funza (Bacatá)	20 April 1537
• Conquest of Hunza	20 August 1537
• Destruction of the Sun Temple	September 1537
• Foundation of Bogotá Battle of Tocarema	6 August 1538 20 August 1538
• Foundation of Tunja Death of Tundama	6 August 1539 December 1539
• Execution of Aquiminzaque	1540
Population
• Early 16th century^[1]	2-3 million
Preceded by Succeeded by Herrera Period New Kingdom of Granada
Today part of	Colombia - Cundinamarca - Boyacá - Santander

According to some Muisca scholars the Muisca Confederation was one of the best-organized confederations of tribes on the South American continent.^[2] Modern anthropologists, such as Jorge Gamboa Mendoza, attribute the present-day knowledge about the confederation and its organization more to a reflection by Spanish chroniclers who predominantly wrote about it a century or more after the Muisca were conquered and proposed the idea of a loose collection of different people with slightly different languages and backgrounds.^[3]

Geography

See also: Altiplano Cundiboyacense, Bogotá savanna, and Tenza Valley

 

Topography Boyacá

Climate

Climate charts for the extremes and four most important settlements of the Muisca Confederation
NW: Vélez – 2050 m Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     34     19 7     46     19 8     67     19 9     113     19 9     102     18 9     63     18 9     47     18 9     47     18 9     56     18 8     119     18 9     112     18 9     60     19 8 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: Climate-data.org – Bogotá Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.3     67 45     1.8     67 46     2.6     67 47     4.4     66 49     4     65 49     2.5     64 48     1.9     64 48     1.9     64 47     2.2     65 47     4.7     65 47     4.4     65 47     2.4     66 46 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches	Lowest: Charalá – 1290 m Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     71     29 15     97     29 16     157     29 16     272     28 16     283     28 16     176     27 16     175     29 15     192     28 15     224     28 15     312     27 16     244     27 16     103     28 16 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: Climate-data.org – Charalá Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.8     83 59     3.8     83 60     6.2     84 60     11     82 61     11     82 61     6.9     81 61     6.9     84 60     7.6     83 59     8.8     82 60     12     81 61     9.6     81 61     4.1     82 60 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches	Highest: Aquitania – 3030 m Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     11     17 6     22     17 6     49     17 7     139     16 8     219     15 8     113     14 7     109     14 7     94     14 7     83     15 7     109     15 7     75     16 7     24     16 7 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: Climate-data.org – Aquitania Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     0.4     62 43     0.9     62 44     1.9     63 45     5.5     61 46     8.6     59 46     4.4     57 45     4.3     56 45     3.7     57 45     3.3     58 44     4.3     60 45     3     61 45     0.9     61 44 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches	NE: Soatá – 1950 m Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     41     25 12     58     25 12     88     25 13     271     24 13     241     23 13     126     23 13     101     23 12     103     23 13     155     24 13     260     23 13     163     23 13     84     24 12 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: Climate-data.org – Soatá Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.6     76 54     2.3     77 54     3.5     77 55     11     75 56     9.5     74 56     5     73 55     4     74 54     4.1     74 55     6.1     74 55     10     74 55     6.4     74 55     3.3     75 54 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches
SW: Tibacuy – 1647 m Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     72     24 15     90     24 15     109     25 16     170     24 16     155     24 16     88     23 15     57     24 16     52     24 16     80     24 15     214     23 15     216     23 15     100     23 15 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: Climate-data.org – Tibacuy Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.8     75 59     3.5     76 60     4.3     76 61     6.7     75 61     6.1     74 61     3.5     74 60     2.2     75 60     2     75 60     3.1     76 59     8.4     74 59     8.5     73 59     3.9     74 59 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches			SE: Ubalá – 1949 m Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     47     23 11     93     24 12     136     24 13     216     23 14     290     22 14     360     21 13     332     21 13     276     21 13     205     22 12     188     22 13     132     23 13     72     23 12 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: Climate-data.org – Ubalá Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.9     74 52     3.7     74 54     5.4     74 56     8.5     73 57     11     72 57     14     70 56     13     70 55     11     70 55     8.1     71 54     7.4     72 55     5.2     73 55     2.8     73 54 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches
Bacatá – 2700 m Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     34     19 4     46     19 4     67     19 7     113     19 7     102     18 8     63     18 9     47     18 8     47     18 8     56     18 7     119     18 7     112     18 8     60     19 5 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: Climate-data.org – Bogotá Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.3     67 40     1.8     67 38     2.6     67 44     4.4     66 45     4     65 47     2.5     64 48     1.9     64 46     1.9     64 46     2.2     65 45     4.7     65 44     4.4     65 46     2.4     66 41 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches	Hunza – 2820 m Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     23     19 7     30     19 7     64     19 8     116     18 9     108     18 9     92     16 8     70     16 8     69     17 8     72     17 8     122     17 8     108     18 8     43     18 7 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: Climate-data.org – Tunja Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     0.9     66 44     1.2     66 45     2.5     67 47     4.6     65 48     4.3     64 48     3.6     61 47     2.8     61 46     2.7     62 46     2.8     63 46     4.8     63 47     4.3     64 47     1.7     65 45 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches	Suamox – 2569 m Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     19     22 8     31     22 9     58     22 9     114     21 10     107     20 10     65     19 9     49     19 9     51     20 9     64     20 9     116     20 10     89     21 9     35     21 8 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: Climate-data.org – Sogamoso Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     0.7     71 47     1.2     72 47     2.3     72 48     4.5     69 50     4.2     68 50     2.6     67 49     1.9     66 47     2     67 48     2.5     68 48     4.6     68 49     3.5     69 49     1.4     70 47 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches	Tundama – 2590 m Climate chart (explanation) J F M A M J J A S O N D     21     21 7     43     22 8     65     22 8     123     20 9     126     20 9     75     19 9     54     19 8     54     19 8     74     20 8     143     19 9     92     20 9     42     21 7 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: Climate-data.org – Duitama Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     0.8     70 45     1.7     71 46     2.6     71 46     4.8     69 49     5     67 49     3     66 47     2.1     66 46     2.1     67 46     2.9     67 46     5.6     67 48     3.6     68 47     1.7     69 45 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches
The climates (Af-Cfb-Cwb) of the geographic (NW, NE, SW and SE) and topographic extremes and for the four main settlements of the Muisca Confederation situated on the Altiplano, from SW to NE; Bacatá, Hunza, Suamox and Tundama are rather constant over the year with wetter periods in April–May and October–November

Muisca Confederation

 

Location of the Muisca Confederation on the map of the Republic of Colombia.

In the times before the Spanish conquest of the Muisca, the central part of present-day Colombia; the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes was inhabited by the Muisca people who were organised in a loose confederation of rulers. The central authorities of Bacatá in the south and Hunza in the north were called zipa and zaque respectively. Other rulers were the iraca priest in sacred City of the Sun Sugamuxi, the Tundama of Tundama and various other caciques (chiefs). The Muisca spoke Chibcha, in their own language called Muysccubun; "language of the people".

The Muisca people, different from the other three great civilisations of the Americas; the Maya, Aztec and Inca, did not build grand stone architecture. Their settlements were relatively small and consisted of bohíos; circular houses of wood and clay, organised around a central market square with the house of the cacique in the centre. Roads were present to connect the settlements with each other and with the surrounding indigenous groups, of which the Guane and Lache to the north, the Panche and Muzo to the west and Guayupe, Achagua and Tegua to the east were the most important.

History

Prehistory

See also: Altiplano Cundiboyacense § Prehistory

Early Amerindian settlers led a hunter-gatherer life among still extant megafauna living in cool habitats around Pleistocene lakes, of which the humedales in Bogotá, Lake Suesca, Lake Fúquene and Lake Herrera are notable examples. Multiple evidences of late Pleistocene to middle Holocene population of the Bogotá savanna, the high plateau in the Colombian Andes, have been found to date. As is common with caves and rock shelters, Tequendama was inhabited from around 11,000 years BP, and continuing into the prehistorical, Herrera and Muisca periods, making it the oldest site of Colombia, together with El Abra (12,500 BP), located north of Zipaquirá and Tibitó, located within the boundaries of Tocancipá (11,740 BP).^[4][5] The oldest human remains and the oldest complete skeleton were discovered at Tequendama and has been named "Hombre del Tequendama" or Homo Tequendama. Other artefacts have been found in Gachalá (9100 BP), Sueva (Junín) and Zipacón.^[6] Just west of the Altiplano, the oldest archaeological remains were found; in Pubenza, part of Tocaima and have been dated at 16,000 years Before Present.^[7]

Pre-Columbian era

Timeline of inhabitation of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, Colombia
	Altiplano   Muisca Confederation

Herrera Period

Period name	Start age	End age
Herrera	800 BCE	800
Early Muisca	800	1200
Late Muisca	1200	1537
Kruschek, 2003^[8]

Main article: Herrera Period

The Herrera Period is a phase in the history of Colombia. It is part of the Andean preceramic and ceramic, time equivalent of the North American pre-Columbian formative and classic stages and age dated by various archaeologists.^[9] The Herrera Period predates the age of the Muisca people, who inhabited the Altiplano Cundiboyacense before the Spanish conquest of the Muisca and postdates the lithic formative stage and prehistory of the eastern Andean region in Colombia. The Herrera Period is usually defined as ranging from 800 BCE to 800 AD,^[10] although some scholars date it as early as 1500 BCE.^[11]

Ample evidence of the Herrera Period has been uncovered on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense and main archaeologists contributing to the present knowledge about the Herrera Period are scholars Ana María Groot, Gonzalo Correal Urrego, Thomas van der Hammen, Carl Henrik Langebaek Rueda, Sylvia M. Broadbent, Marianne Cardale de Schrimpff and others.

Muisca

Main article: Muisca

The Muisca were polytheistic and their religion and mythology was closely connected with the natural area they were inhabiting. They had a thorough understanding of astronomical parameters and developed a complex luni-solar calendar; the Muisca calendar. According to the calendar they had specific times for sowing, harvest and the organisation of festivals where they sang, danced and played music and drank their national drink chicha in great quantities.

The most respected members of the community were mummified and the mummies were not buried, yet displayed in their temples, in natural locations such as caves and even carried on their backs during warfare to impress their enemies.

Their art is the most famous remnant of their culture, as living spaces, temples and other existing structures have been destroyed by the Spanish who colonised the Muisca territories. A primary example of their fine goldworking is the Muisca raft, together with more objects made of gold, tumbaga, ceramics and cotton displayed in the Museo del Oro in Bogotá, the ancient capital of the southern Muisca.

The Muisca were a predominantly agricultural society with small-scale farmfields, part of more extensive terrains. To diversify their diet, they traded mantles, gold, emeralds and salt for fruits, vegetables, coca, yopo and cotton cultivated in lower altitude warmer terrains populated by their neighbours, the Muzo, Panche, Yarigui, Guane, Guayupe, Achagua, Tegua, Lache, Sutagao and U'wa. Trade of products grown farther away happened with the Calima, Pijao and Caribbean coastal communities around the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

The Muisca economy was self-sufficient regarding the basic supplies,^{[clarification needed]} thanks to the advanced technologies of the agriculture on raised terraces by the people. The system of trade was well established providing both the higher social classes and the general population abundances of gold, feathers, marine snails, coca, yopo and other luxury goods. Markets were held every four to eight days in various settlements throughout the Muisca Confederation and special markets were organised around festivities where merchants from far outside the Andes were trading their goods with the Muisca.

Apart from agriculture, the Muisca were well developed in the production of different crafts, using the raw materials traded with surrounding indigenous peoples. Famous are the golden and tumbaga objects made by the Muisca people. Cotton mantles, cloths and nets were made by the Muisca women and traded for valuable goods, tropical fruits and small cotton cloths were used as money. The Muisca were unique in South America for having real coins of gold, called tejuelos.

Mining was an important source of income for the Muisca, who were called "Salt People" because of their salt mines in Zipaquirá, Nemocón and Tausa. Like their western neighbours, the Muzo -who were called "The Emerald People"- they mined emeralds in their territories, mainly in Somondoco. Carbon was found throughout the region of the Muisca in Eocene sediments and used for the fires for cooking and the production of salt and golden ornaments.

The people used a decimal counting system and counted with their fingers. Their system went from 1 to 10 and for higher numerations they used the prefix quihicha or qhicha, which means "foot" in their Chibcha language Muysccubun. Eleven became thus "foot one", twelve "foot two", etc. As in the other pre-Columbian civilizations, the number 20 was special. It was the total number of all body extremities; fingers and toes. The Muisca used two forms to express twenty: "foot ten"; quihícha ubchihica or their exclusive word gueta, derived from gue, which means "house". Numbers between 20 and 30 were counted gueta asaqui ata ("twenty plus one"; 21), gueta asaqui ubchihica ("twenty plus ten"; 30). Larger numbers were counted as multiples of twenty; gue-bosa ("20 times 2"; 40), gue-hisca ("20 times 5"; 100). The Muisca script consisted of hieroglyphs, only used for numerals.^[12]

Territorial organization

History of the Muisca
Altiplano	Muisca	Art	Architecture	Astronomy	Cuisine	El Dorado	Subsistence	Women	Conquest

Bacatá

 

The zipa ruled over the Bogotá savanna

• Capital – Bacatá
• Area – 5,430 square kilometres (2,100 sq mi)
• Average elevation – 2,470 metres (8,100 ft)
• Last rulers – zipas Tisquesusa, Sagipa
• Date of conquest – 20 April 1537 (Funza) – Jiménez & Pérez de Quesada
• First city – 6 August 1538 (Bogotá) – Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada

Municipality	Department bold is capital	Ruler(s) bold is seat	Altitude urban centre (m)	Surface area (km^2)	Remarks	Map
Bacatá	Cundinamarca	zipa	2640	1587	Muisca mummy found Important market town Petrographs found
Bojacá	Cundinamarca	zipa	2598	109	Lake Herrera Petrographs found
Cajicá	Cundinamarca	zipa	2558	50.4
La Calera	Cundinamarca	zipa	2718	317	Petrographs found
Cáqueza	Cundinamarca	zipa	1746	38
Chía	Cundinamarca	zipa	2564	80	Moon Temple Herrera site Petrographs found
Choachí	Cundinamarca	zipa	1923	223	Choachí Stone found
Chocontá	Cundinamarca	zipa	2655	301.1	Important market town Battle of Chocontá (~1490) Fortification between zipa & zaque
Cogua	Cundinamarca	zipa	2600	113	Muisca ceramics production Petrographs found
Cota	Cundinamarca	zipa	2566	55	Petrographs found Still Muisca people living
Cucunubá	Cundinamarca	zipa	2590	112	Petrographs found
Facatativá	Cundinamarca	zipa	2586	158	Piedras del Tunjo
Funza	Cundinamarca	zipa	2548	70	Important market town
Gachancipá	Cundinamarca	zipa	2568	44	Muisca mummy found Muisca ceramics production
Guasca	Cundinamarca	zipa	2710	346	Siecha Lakes Muisca ceramics production Petrographs found
Madrid	Cundinamarca	zipa	2554	120.5	Lake Herrera Petrographs found
Mosquera	Cundinamarca	zipa	2516	107	Lake Herrera Petrographs found
Nemocón	Cundinamarca	zipa	2585	98.1	Muisca salt mines Preceramic site Checua Petrographs found
Pacho	Cundinamarca	zipa	2136	403.3	Important market town
Pasca	Cundinamarca	zipa	2180	246.24	Battle of Pasca (~1470) Muisca raft found
El Rosal	Cundinamarca	zipa	2685	86.48
San Antonio del Tequendama	Cundinamarca	zipa	1540	82	Tequendama Falls Fortification against Panche Petrographs found
Sesquilé	Cundinamarca	zipa	2595	141	Lake Guatavita Minor Muisca salt mines
Sibaté	Cundinamarca	zipa	2700	125.6	Petrographs found
Soacha	Cundinamarca	zipa	2565	184.45	Preceramic site Tequendama Herrera site Muisca ceramics production Petrographs found
Sopó	Cundinamarca	zipa	2650	111.5	Herrera site
Subachoque	Cundinamarca	zipa	2663	211.53	Petrographs found
Suesca	Cundinamarca	zipa	2584	177	150 Muisca mummies found Lake Suesca Muisca ceramics production Important market town Petrographs found
Sutatausa	Cundinamarca	zipa	2550	67	Petrographs found
Tabio	Cundinamarca	zipa	2569	74.5	Hot springs used by the Muisca
Tausa	Cundinamarca	zipa	2931	204	Muisca salt mines Petrographs found
Tena	Cundinamarca	zipa	1384	55	Fortification against Panche Petrographs found
Tenjo	Cundinamarca	zipa	2587	108	Petrographs found
Tibacuy	Cundinamarca	zipa & Panche	1647	84.4	Border with Panche Fortification against Panche & Sutagao Petrographs found
Tocancipá	Cundinamarca	zipa	2605	73.51	Preceramic site Tibitó Muisca ceramics production Important market town Petrographs found
Zipaquirá	Cundinamarca	zipa	2650	197	El Abra Muisca salt mines Important market town Petrographs and petroglyphs found
Fúquene	Cundinamarca	zipa zaque	2750	90	Lake Fúquene
Simijaca	Cundinamarca	zipa (1490–1537)	2559	107	Conquered by zipa Saguamanchica upon zaque Michuá (~1490)
Susa	Cundinamarca	zipa (1490–1537)	2655	86	Conquered by zipa Saguamanchica upon zaque Michuá (~1490) Lake Fúquene
Ubaté	Cundinamarca	zipa (1490–1537)	2556	102	Conquered by zipa Saguamanchica upon zaque Michuá (~1490) Muisca mummy found
Zipacón	Cundinamarca	zipa	2550	70	Agriculture Place of meditation for the zipa Petrographs found

Chipazaque

 

Landscape of Chipazaque

Municipality	Department	Ruler(s)	Altitude (m)	Surface area (km^2)	Remarks	Map
Junín	Cundinamarca	chipazaque	2300	337	Shared between zipa and zaque Petrographs found

Hunza

 

The Muisca were bordered to the west by the Emerald People

• Capital – Hunza
• Area – 4,700 square kilometres (1,800 sq mi)
• Average elevation – 2,270 metres (7,450 ft)
• Last rulers – zaques Quemuenchatocha, Aquiminzaque
• Date of conquest – 20 August 1537 (Hunza) – Jiménez & Pérez de Quesada
• First city – 6 August 1539 (Tunja) – Gonzalo Suárez Rendón

Municipality	Department bold is capital	Ruler(s) bold is seat	Altitude (m)	Surface area (km^2)	Remarks	Map
Hunza	Boyacá	zaque	2820	121.4	Hunzahúa Well Cojines del Zaque Goranchacha Temple Muisca mummy found Important market town Petrographs found
Boyacá	Boyacá	zaque	2420	48
Buenavista	Boyacá	zaque	2100	125	Border with Muzo Nose piece and pectoral found, dated at 620 and 990 AD respectively^[13]
Chinavita	Boyacá	zaque	1763	148
Chíquiza	Boyacá	zaque	2900	119.52	Lake Iguaque
Chitaraque	Boyacá	zaque	1575	157.65
Chivatá	Boyacá	zaque	2903	56
Ciénega	Boyacá	zaque	2460	73
Cucaita	Boyacá	zaque	2650	43.58
Gachantivá	Boyacá	zaque	2450	66	Muisca mummy found Muisca copper mines
Garagoa	Boyacá	zaque	1650	191.75
Macanal	Boyacá	zaque	1680	199.5	Border with Tegua
Motavita	Boyacá	zaque	2690	62	Coca market town Petrographs found
Oicatá	Boyacá	zaque	2815	59
Pachavita	Boyacá	zaque	1985	68
Ramiriquí	Boyacá	zaque	2325	146.5	Place of death of Quemuenchatocha Important ceramics production Petrographs found
Sáchica	Boyacá	zaque	2150	62.4	Petrographs found
Samacá	Boyacá	zaque	2660	172.9
San Miguel de Sema	Boyacá	zaque	2615	90	Lake Fúquene
Siachoque	Boyacá	zaque	2760	125
Somondoco	Boyacá	zaque	1670	58.7	Muisca emerald mines Important market town
Sutamarchán	Boyacá	zaque	1800	102	Muisca ceramics production
Tinjacá	Boyacá	zaque	2175	79.3	Muisca ceramics production
Tipacoque	Boyacá	zaque	1850	72.1	Chicamocha Canyon
Turmequé	Boyacá	zaque	2389	106	Important market town Fortification between zipa & zaque
Villa de Leyva	Boyacá	zaque	2149	128	El Infiernito Lake Iguaque Muisca mummy found Important market town
Sora	Boyacá	zaque	2650	42
Soracá	Boyacá	zaque	2942	57
Sotaquirá	Boyacá	zaque	2860	288.65
Sutatenza	Boyacá	zaque	1890	41.26
Tibaná	Boyacá	zaque	2115	121.76	Petrographs found
Togüí	Boyacá	zaque	1650	118
Tuta	Boyacá	zaque	2600	165
Ventaquemada	Boyacá	zaque	2630	159.3
Viracachá	Boyacá	zaque	2520	68
Zetaquirá	Boyacá	zaque	1665	262
Almeida	Boyacá	zaque	1925	57.98
La Capilla	Boyacá	zaque	1750	57.26
Jenesano	Boyacá	zaque	2076	59
Nuevo Colón	Boyacá	zaque	2500	51
Rondón	Boyacá	zaque	2075	158
Lenguazaque	Cundinamarca	zaque	2589	15.36
Machetá	Cundinamarca	zaque	2094	229.35	Petrographs found
Tibiritá	Cundinamarca	zaque	1980	57.2	Petrographs found
Villapinzón	Cundinamarca	zaque	2715	249

Iraca

 

The Sun Temple was the seat of the iraca

• Capital – Suamox
• Area – 4,163 square kilometres (1,607 sq mi)
• Average elevation – 2,630 metres (8,630 ft)
• Last ruler – iraca Sugamuxi
• Date of conquest – Early September 1537 (Sogamoso) – Jiménez & Pérez de Quesada
• Important settlements – Suamox, Busbanzá, Firavitoba, Gámeza and Tota
• Archaeological remains – mummies, Sun Temple reconstruction, Lake Tota

Municipality	Department	Ruler(s) bold is seat	Altitude (m)	Surface area (km^2)	Remarks	Map
Suamox	Boyacá	iraca Nompanim Sugamuxi	2569	208.54	Sun Temple Muisca mummy found Muisca carbon mines
Aquitania	Boyacá	iraca	3030	943	Lake Tota
Busbanzá	Boyacá	iraca	2472	22.5	Elector of new iraca
Cuítiva	Boyacá	iraca	2750	43	Lake Tota Statue of Bochica
Firavitoba	Boyacá	iraca	2500	109.9	Elector of new iraca
Gámeza	Boyacá	iraca	2750	88	Herrera site Muisca mummy found Minor Muisca salt mines Muisca carbon mines Petrographs found
Iza	Boyacá	iraca	2560	34	Herrera site Lake Tota Petrographs found
Mongua	Boyacá	iraca	2975	365.5	Petrographs found
Monguí	Boyacá	iraca	2900	81	Petroglyphs Birth places (Tortolitas)
Pesca	Boyacá	iraca	2858	282
Tasco	Boyacá	iraca	2530	167	Muisca mummy found
Toca	Boyacá	iraca	2810	165
Tota	Boyacá	iraca	2870	314	Lake Tota
Socotá	Boyacá	iraca Tundama	2443	600.11	Muisca mummy found
Tibasosa	Boyacá	Tundama iraca	2538	94.3

Tundama

 

The area around Tundama was filled with small lakes of which some bloody evidences remain

• Capital – Tundama
• Area – 2,920 square kilometres (1,130 sq mi)
• Average elevation – 2,470 metres (8,100 ft)
• Last ruler – Tundama
• Date of conquest – Late December 1539 (Duitama) – Baltasar Maldonado
• Important settlements – Tundama, Onzaga, Soatá, Chitagoto (now Paz de Río)

Municipality	Department	Ruler(s) bold is seat	Altitude (m)	Surface area (km^2)	Remarks	Map
Tundama	Boyacá	Tundama	2590	266.93	Seat of Tundama In ancient lake
Onzaga	Santander	Tundama	1960	486.76	Important for wool and cotton production
Cerinza	Boyacá	Tundama	2750	61.63	Monument to the Muisca
Paz de Río	Boyacá	Tundama	2200	116	Coca market town
Paipa	Boyacá	Tundama	2525	305.924	Thermal springs
Sativanorte	Boyacá	Tundama	2600	184	Herrera site
Sativasur	Boyacá	Tundama	2600	81	Muisca mummy SO10-IX found Herrera site
Soatá	Boyacá	Tundama	1950	136	Herrera site Coca market town
Belén	Boyacá	Tundama	2650	83.6	Petrographs found
Corrales	Boyacá	Tundama	2470	60.85
Floresta	Boyacá	Tundama	2506	86
Nobsa	Boyacá	Tundama	2510	55.39
Santa Rosa de Viterbo	Boyacá	Tundama	2753	107
Susacón	Boyacá	Tundama	2480	191
Tibasosa	Boyacá	Tundama iraca	2538	94.3
Socotá	Boyacá	iraca Tundama	2443	600.11	Muisca mummy found

Independent caciques

 

Independent caciques headed small communities

• Capital – none
• Area – 3,080 square kilometres (1,190 sq mi)
• Average elevation – 2,140 metres (7,020 ft)
• Important caciques – Guatavita, Ubaté, Chiquinquirá, Ubaque, Tenza, Vélez

Municipality bold is major cacique	Department	Ruler(s)	Altitude (m)	Surface area (km^2)	Remarks	Map
Vélez	Santander	cacique	2050	271.34
Chipatá	Santander	cacique	1820	94.17	First town conquered by the Spanish
Güepsa	Santander	cacique	1540	33.08	Border with Guane Border with Yarigui	October 19, 2023 Latest articles January 01, 1970 Prefectures of Chad January 01, 1970 Prehistoric Beifudi site January 01, 1970 Prehistory and protohistory of Poland January 01, 1970 Prehistory of Moldavia January 01, 1970 Preimplantation genetic haplotyping January 01, 1970 Preise, Jerusalem, den Herrn, BWV 119 January 01, 1970 Prejish Prakash January 01, 1970 Preoccupied January 01, 1970 Prelude to the Warsaw Uprising January 01, 1970 Prelude to Foundation Most Read January 01, 1970 Ami (magazine) January 01, 1970 Amical FC January 01, 1970 Amiga Power January 01, 1970 Amido January 01, 1970 Amihan (Encantadia) muisca, confederation, other, uses, muisca, muisca, disambiguation, loose, confederation, different, muisca, rulers, zaques, zipas, iraca, tundama, central, andean, highlands, what, today, colombia, before, spanish, conquest, northern, south, america, area, pr. For other uses of Muisca see Muisca disambiguation The Muisca Confederation was a loose confederation of different Muisca rulers zaques zipas iraca and tundama in the central Andean highlands of what is today Colombia before the Spanish conquest of northern South America The area presently called Altiplano Cundiboyacense comprised the current departments of Boyaca Cundinamarca and minor parts of Santander Muisca Confederation 1450 1540Muisca Confederationon the Altiplano CundiboyacenseZaque rule in yellowZipa rule in greenIndependent territories in redCapitalHunza and Funza Bacata 1450 1540 Common languagesMuysccubunReligionMuisca religionZaque and zipa 1450 1470zaque Hunzahuazipa Meicuchuca 1470 1490zaque Saguamanchicazipa Michua 1490 15371490 1514zaque Quemuenchatochazipa Nemequene 1514 1537zipa Tisquesusa 1537 15401537 1539zaque Aquiminzaquezipa SagipaHistorical eraPre Columbian Established 1450 Spanish conquest beginsMarch 1537 Conquest of Funza Bacata 20 April 1537 Conquest of Hunza20 August 1537 Destruction of the Sun TempleSeptember 1537 Foundation of BogotaBattle of Tocarema6 August 153820 August 1538 Foundation of TunjaDeath of Tundama6 August 1539December 1539 Execution of Aquiminzaque1540Population Early 16th century 1 2 3 millionPreceded by Succeeded byHerrera Period New Kingdom of GranadaToday part ofColombia Cundinamarca Boyaca SantanderAccording to some Muisca scholars the Muisca Confederation was one of the best organized confederations of tribes on the South American continent 2 Modern anthropologists such as Jorge Gamboa Mendoza attribute the present day knowledge about the confederation and its organization more to a reflection by Spanish chroniclers who predominantly wrote about it a century or more after the Muisca were conquered and proposed the idea of a loose collection of different people with slightly different languages and backgrounds 3 Contents 1 Geography 1 1 Climate 2 Muisca Confederation 2 1 History 2 1 1 Prehistory 2 1 2 Pre Columbian era 2 1 2 1 Herrera Period 2 1 2 2 Muisca 3 Territorial organization 3 1 Bacata 3 2 Chipazaque 3 3 Hunza 3 4 Iraca 3 5 Tundama 3 6 Independent caciques 4 Neighbouring indigenous groups 5 Sacred sites 5 1 Other sacred sites 6 Spanish conquests 6 1 Conquest and early colonial period 7 Early colonial period 8 See also 9 Notes 10 References 11 Bibliography and further reading 11 1 Spanish chroniclersGeography EditSee also Altiplano Cundiboyacense Bogota savanna and Tenza Valley nbsp Topography BoyacaClimate Edit Climate charts for the extremes and four most important settlements of the Muisca ConfederationNW Velez 2050 mClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 34 19 7 46 19 8 67 19 9 113 19 9 102 18 9 63 18 9 47 18 9 47 18 9 56 18 8 119 18 9 112 18 9 60 19 8 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource Climate data org BogotaImperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 1 3 67 45 1 8 67 46 2 6 67 47 4 4 66 49 4 65 49 2 5 64 48 1 9 64 48 1 9 64 47 2 2 65 47 4 7 65 47 4 4 65 47 2 4 66 46 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inches Lowest Charala 1290 mClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 71 29 15 97 29 16 157 29 16 272 28 16 283 28 16 176 27 16 175 29 15 192 28 15 224 28 15 312 27 16 244 27 16 103 28 16 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource Climate data org CharalaImperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 2 8 83 59 3 8 83 60 6 2 84 60 11 82 61 11 82 61 6 9 81 61 6 9 84 60 7 6 83 59 8 8 82 60 12 81 61 9 6 81 61 4 1 82 60 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inches Highest Aquitania 3030 mClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 11 17 6 22 17 6 49 17 7 139 16 8 219 15 8 113 14 7 109 14 7 94 14 7 83 15 7 109 15 7 75 16 7 24 16 7 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource Climate data org AquitaniaImperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 0 4 62 43 0 9 62 44 1 9 63 45 5 5 61 46 8 6 59 46 4 4 57 45 4 3 56 45 3 7 57 45 3 3 58 44 4 3 60 45 3 61 45 0 9 61 44 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inches NE Soata 1950 mClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 41 25 12 58 25 12 88 25 13 271 24 13 241 23 13 126 23 13 101 23 12 103 23 13 155 24 13 260 23 13 163 23 13 84 24 12 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource Climate data org SoataImperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 1 6 76 54 2 3 77 54 3 5 77 55 11 75 56 9 5 74 56 5 73 55 4 74 54 4 1 74 55 6 1 74 55 10 74 55 6 4 74 55 3 3 75 54 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesSW Tibacuy 1647 mClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 72 24 15 90 24 15 109 25 16 170 24 16 155 24 16 88 23 15 57 24 16 52 24 16 80 24 15 214 23 15 216 23 15 100 23 15 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource Climate data org TibacuyImperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 2 8 75 59 3 5 76 60 4 3 76 61 6 7 75 61 6 1 74 61 3 5 74 60 2 2 75 60 2 75 60 3 1 76 59 8 4 74 59 8 5 73 59 3 9 74 59 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inches nbsp nbsp SE Ubala 1949 mClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 47 23 11 93 24 12 136 24 13 216 23 14 290 22 14 360 21 13 332 21 13 276 21 13 205 22 12 188 22 13 132 23 13 72 23 12 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource Climate data org UbalaImperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 1 9 74 52 3 7 74 54 5 4 74 56 8 5 73 57 11 72 57 14 70 56 13 70 55 11 70 55 8 1 71 54 7 4 72 55 5 2 73 55 2 8 73 54 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesBacata 2700 mClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 34 19 4 46 19 4 67 19 7 113 19 7 102 18 8 63 18 9 47 18 8 47 18 8 56 18 7 119 18 7 112 18 8 60 19 5 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource Climate data org BogotaImperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 1 3 67 40 1 8 67 38 2 6 67 44 4 4 66 45 4 65 47 2 5 64 48 1 9 64 46 1 9 64 46 2 2 65 45 4 7 65 44 4 4 65 46 2 4 66 41 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inches Hunza 2820 mClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 23 19 7 30 19 7 64 19 8 116 18 9 108 18 9 92 16 8 70 16 8 69 17 8 72 17 8 122 17 8 108 18 8 43 18 7 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource Climate data org TunjaImperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 0 9 66 44 1 2 66 45 2 5 67 47 4 6 65 48 4 3 64 48 3 6 61 47 2 8 61 46 2 7 62 46 2 8 63 46 4 8 63 47 4 3 64 47 1 7 65 45 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inches Suamox 2569 mClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 19 22 8 31 22 9 58 22 9 114 21 10 107 20 10 65 19 9 49 19 9 51 20 9 64 20 9 116 20 10 89 21 9 35 21 8 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource Climate data org SogamosoImperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 0 7 71 47 1 2 72 47 2 3 72 48 4 5 69 50 4 2 68 50 2 6 67 49 1 9 66 47 2 67 48 2 5 68 48 4 6 68 49 3 5 69 49 1 4 70 47 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inches Tundama 2590 mClimate chart explanation J F M A M J J A S O N D 21 21 7 43 22 8 65 22 8 123 20 9 126 20 9 75 19 9 54 19 8 54 19 8 74 20 8 143 19 9 92 20 9 42 21 7 Average max and min temperatures in C Precipitation totals in mmSource Climate data org DuitamaImperial conversionJFMAMJJASOND 0 8 70 45 1 7 71 46 2 6 71 46 4 8 69 49 5 67 49 3 66 47 2 1 66 46 2 1 67 46 2 9 67 46 5 6 67 48 3 6 68 47 1 7 69 45 Average max and min temperatures in F Precipitation totals in inchesThe climates Af Cfb Cwb of the geographic NW NE SW and SE and topographic extremes and for the four main settlements of the Muisca Confederation situated on the Altiplano from SW to NE Bacata Hunza Suamox and Tundama are rather constant over the year with wetter periods in April May and October NovemberMuisca Confederation Edit nbsp Location of the Muisca Confederation on the map of the Republic of Colombia In the times before the Spanish conquest of the Muisca the central part of present day Colombia the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes was inhabited by the Muisca people who were organised in a loose confederation of rulers The central authorities of Bacata in the south and Hunza in the north were called zipa and zaque respectively Other rulers were the iraca priest in sacred City of the Sun Sugamuxi the Tundama of Tundama and various other caciques chiefs The Muisca spoke Chibcha in their own language called Muysccubun language of the people The Muisca people different from the other three great civilisations of the Americas the Maya Aztec and Inca did not build grand stone architecture Their settlements were relatively small and consisted of bohios circular houses of wood and clay organised around a central market square with the house of the cacique in the centre Roads were present to connect the settlements with each other and with the surrounding indigenous groups of which the Guane and Lache to the north the Panche and Muzo to the west and Guayupe Achagua and Tegua to the east were the most important History Edit Prehistory Edit See also Altiplano Cundiboyacense Prehistory Early Amerindian settlers led a hunter gatherer life among still extant megafauna living in cool habitats around Pleistocene lakes of which the humedales in Bogota Lake Suesca Lake Fuquene and Lake Herrera are notable examples Multiple evidences of late Pleistocene to middle Holocene population of the Bogota savanna the high plateau in the Colombian Andes have been found to date As is common with caves and rock shelters Tequendama was inhabited from around 11 000 years BP and continuing into the prehistorical Herrera and Muisca periods making it the oldest site of Colombia together with El Abra 12 500 BP located north of Zipaquira and Tibito located within the boundaries of Tocancipa 11 740 BP 4 5 The oldest human remains and the oldest complete skeleton were discovered at Tequendama and has been named Hombre del Tequendama or Homo Tequendama Other artefacts have been found in Gachala 9100 BP Sueva Junin and Zipacon 6 Just west of the Altiplano the oldest archaeological remains were found in Pubenza part of Tocaima and have been dated at 16 000 years Before Present 7 Pre Columbian era Edit Timeline of inhabitation of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense Colombia nbsp Altiplano nbsp Muisca Confederation nbsp Herrera Period Edit Periodname Startage EndageHerrera 800 BCE 800Early Muisca 800 1200Late Muisca 1200 1537Kruschek 2003 8 Main article Herrera Period The Herrera Period is a phase in the history of Colombia It is part of the Andean preceramic and ceramic time equivalent of the North American pre Columbian formative and classic stages and age dated by various archaeologists 9 The Herrera Period predates the age of the Muisca people who inhabited the Altiplano Cundiboyacense before the Spanish conquest of the Muisca and postdates the lithic formative stage and prehistory of the eastern Andean region in Colombia The Herrera Period is usually defined as ranging from 800 BCE to 800 AD 10 although some scholars date it as early as 1500 BCE 11 Ample evidence of the Herrera Period has been uncovered on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense and main archaeologists contributing to the present knowledge about the Herrera Period are scholars Ana Maria Groot Gonzalo Correal Urrego Thomas van der Hammen Carl Henrik Langebaek Rueda Sylvia M Broadbent Marianne Cardale de Schrimpff and others Muisca Edit Main article Muisca The Muisca were polytheistic and their religion and mythology was closely connected with the natural area they were inhabiting They had a thorough understanding of astronomical parameters and developed a complex luni solar calendar the Muisca calendar According to the calendar they had specific times for sowing harvest and the organisation of festivals where they sang danced and played music and drank their national drink chicha in great quantities The most respected members of the community were mummified and the mummies were not buried yet displayed in their temples in natural locations such as caves and even carried on their backs during warfare to impress their enemies Their art is the most famous remnant of their culture as living spaces temples and other existing structures have been destroyed by the Spanish who colonised the Muisca territories A primary example of their fine goldworking is the Muisca raft together with more objects made of gold tumbaga ceramics and cotton displayed in the Museo del Oro in Bogota the ancient capital of the southern Muisca The Muisca were a predominantly agricultural society with small scale farmfields part of more extensive terrains To diversify their diet they traded mantles gold emeralds and salt for fruits vegetables coca yopo and cotton cultivated in lower altitude warmer terrains populated by their neighbours the Muzo Panche Yarigui Guane Guayupe Achagua Tegua Lache Sutagao and U wa Trade of products grown farther away happened with the Calima Pijao and Caribbean coastal communities around the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta The Muisca economy was self sufficient regarding the basic supplies clarification needed thanks to the advanced technologies of the agriculture on raised terraces by the people The system of trade was well established providing both the higher social classes and the general population abundances of gold feathers marine snails coca yopo and other luxury goods Markets were held every four to eight days in various settlements throughout the Muisca Confederation and special markets were organised around festivities where merchants from far outside the Andes were trading their goods with the Muisca Apart from agriculture the Muisca were well developed in the production of different crafts using the raw materials traded with surrounding indigenous peoples Famous are the golden and tumbaga objects made by the Muisca people Cotton mantles cloths and nets were made by the Muisca women and traded for valuable goods tropical fruits and small cotton cloths were used as money The Muisca were unique in South America for having real coins of gold called tejuelos Mining was an important source of income for the Muisca who were called Salt People because of their salt mines in Zipaquira Nemocon and Tausa Like their western neighbours the Muzo who were called The Emerald People they mined emeralds in their territories mainly in Somondoco Carbon was found throughout the region of the Muisca in Eocene sediments and used for the fires for cooking and the production of salt and golden ornaments The people used a decimal counting system and counted with their fingers Their system went from 1 to 10 and for higher numerations they used the prefix quihicha or qhicha which means foot in their Chibcha language Muysccubun Eleven became thus foot one twelve foot two etc As in the other pre Columbian civilizations the number 20 was special It was the total number of all body extremities fingers and toes The Muisca used two forms to express twenty foot ten quihicha ubchihica or their exclusive word gueta derived from gue which means house Numbers between 20 and 30 were counted gueta asaqui ata twenty plus one 21 gueta asaqui ubchihica twenty plus ten 30 Larger numbers were counted as multiples of twenty gue bosa 20 times 2 40 gue hisca 20 times 5 100 The Muisca script consisted of hieroglyphs only used for numerals 12 Territorial organization EditHistory of the Muisca nbsp Altiplano nbsp Muisca nbsp Art nbsp Architecture nbsp Astronomy nbsp Cuisine nbsp El Dorado nbsp Subsistence nbsp Women nbsp ConquestBacata Edit nbsp The zipa ruled over the Bogota savannaCapital Bacata Area 5 430 square kilometres 2 100 sq mi Average elevation 2 470 metres 8 100 ft Last rulers zipas Tisquesusa Sagipa Date of conquest 20 April 1537 Funza Jimenez amp Perez de Quesada First city 6 August 1538 Bogota Gonzalo Jimenez de QuesadaMunicipality Departmentbold is capital Ruler s bold is seat Altitudeurban centre m Surface area km2 Remarks MapBacata Cundinamarca zipa 2640 1587 Muisca mummy foundImportant market townPetrographs found nbsp Bojaca Cundinamarca zipa 2598 109 Lake HerreraPetrographs found nbsp Cajica Cundinamarca zipa 2558 50 4 nbsp La Calera Cundinamarca zipa 2718 317 Petrographs found nbsp Caqueza Cundinamarca zipa 1746 38 nbsp Chia Cundinamarca zipa 2564 80 Moon TempleHerrera sitePetrographs found nbsp Choachi Cundinamarca zipa 1923 223 Choachi Stone found nbsp Choconta Cundinamarca zipa 2655 301 1 Important market townBattle of Choconta 1490 Fortification between zipa amp zaque nbsp Cogua Cundinamarca zipa 2600 113 Muisca ceramics productionPetrographs found nbsp Cota Cundinamarca zipa 2566 55 Petrographs foundStill Muisca people living nbsp Cucunuba Cundinamarca zipa 2590 112 Petrographs found nbsp Facatativa Cundinamarca zipa 2586 158 Piedras del Tunjo nbsp Funza Cundinamarca zipa 2548 70 Important market town nbsp Gachancipa Cundinamarca zipa 2568 44 Muisca mummy foundMuisca ceramics production nbsp Guasca Cundinamarca zipa 2710 346 Siecha LakesMuisca ceramics productionPetrographs found nbsp Madrid Cundinamarca zipa 2554 120 5 Lake HerreraPetrographs found nbsp Mosquera Cundinamarca zipa 2516 107 Lake HerreraPetrographs found nbsp Nemocon Cundinamarca zipa 2585 98 1 Muisca salt minesPreceramic site ChecuaPetrographs found nbsp Pacho Cundinamarca zipa 2136 403 3 Important market town nbsp Pasca Cundinamarca zipa 2180 246 24 Battle of Pasca 1470 Muisca raft found nbsp El Rosal Cundinamarca zipa 2685 86 48 nbsp San Antoniodel Tequendama Cundinamarca zipa 1540 82 Tequendama FallsFortification against PanchePetrographs found nbsp Sesquile Cundinamarca zipa 2595 141 Lake GuatavitaMinor Muisca salt mines nbsp Sibate Cundinamarca zipa 2700 125 6 Petrographs found nbsp Soacha Cundinamarca zipa 2565 184 45 Preceramic site TequendamaHerrera siteMuisca ceramics productionPetrographs found nbsp Sopo Cundinamarca zipa 2650 111 5 Herrera site nbsp Subachoque Cundinamarca zipa 2663 211 53 Petrographs found nbsp Suesca Cundinamarca zipa 2584 177 150 Muisca mummies foundLake SuescaMuisca ceramics productionImportant market townPetrographs found nbsp Sutatausa Cundinamarca zipa 2550 67 Petrographs found nbsp Tabio Cundinamarca zipa 2569 74 5 Hot springs used by the Muisca nbsp Tausa Cundinamarca zipa 2931 204 Muisca salt minesPetrographs found nbsp Tena Cundinamarca zipa 1384 55 Fortification against PanchePetrographs found nbsp Tenjo Cundinamarca zipa 2587 108 Petrographs found nbsp Tibacuy Cundinamarca zipa amp Panche 1647 84 4 Border with PancheFortification against Panche amp SutagaoPetrographs found nbsp Tocancipa Cundinamarca zipa 2605 73 51 Preceramic site TibitoMuisca ceramics productionImportant market townPetrographs found nbsp Zipaquira Cundinamarca zipa 2650 197 El AbraMuisca salt minesImportant market townPetrographs and petroglyphs found nbsp Fuquene Cundinamarca zipazaque 2750 90 Lake Fuquene nbsp Simijaca Cundinamarca zipa 1490 1537 2559 107 Conquered by zipa Saguamanchicaupon zaque Michua 1490 nbsp Susa Cundinamarca zipa 1490 1537 2655 86 Conquered by zipa Saguamanchicaupon zaque Michua 1490 Lake Fuquene nbsp Ubate Cundinamarca zipa 1490 1537 2556 102 Conquered by zipa Saguamanchicaupon zaque Michua 1490 Muisca mummy found nbsp Zipacon Cundinamarca zipa 2550 70 AgriculturePlace of meditation for the zipaPetrographs found nbsp Chipazaque Edit nbsp Landscape of ChipazaqueMunicipality Department Ruler s Altitude m Surface area km2 Remarks MapJunin Cundinamarca chipazaque 2300 337 Shared betweenzipa and zaquePetrographs found nbsp Hunza Edit nbsp The Muisca were bordered to the west by the Emerald PeopleCapital Hunza Area 4 700 square kilometres 1 800 sq mi Average elevation 2 270 metres 7 450 ft Last rulers zaques Quemuenchatocha Aquiminzaque Date of conquest 20 August 1537 Hunza Jimenez amp Perez de Quesada First city 6 August 1539 Tunja Gonzalo Suarez RendonMunicipality Departmentbold is capital Ruler s bold is seat Altitude m Surface area km2 Remarks MapHunza Boyaca zaque 2820 121 4 Hunzahua WellCojines del ZaqueGoranchacha TempleMuisca mummy foundImportant market townPetrographs found nbsp Boyaca Boyaca zaque 2420 48 nbsp Buenavista Boyaca zaque 2100 125 Border with MuzoNose piece and pectoral found dated at 620 and 990 AD respectively 13 nbsp Chinavita Boyaca zaque 1763 148 nbsp Chiquiza Boyaca zaque 2900 119 52 Lake Iguaque nbsp Chitaraque Boyaca zaque 1575 157 65 nbsp Chivata Boyaca zaque 2903 56 nbsp Cienega Boyaca zaque 2460 73 nbsp Cucaita Boyaca zaque 2650 43 58 nbsp Gachantiva Boyaca zaque 2450 66 Muisca mummy foundMuisca copper mines nbsp Garagoa Boyaca zaque 1650 191 75 nbsp Macanal Boyaca zaque 1680 199 5 Border with Tegua nbsp Motavita Boyaca zaque 2690 62 Coca market townPetrographs found nbsp Oicata Boyaca zaque 2815 59 nbsp Pachavita Boyaca zaque 1985 68 nbsp Ramiriqui Boyaca zaque 2325 146 5 Place of death of QuemuenchatochaImportant ceramics productionPetrographs found nbsp Sachica Boyaca zaque 2150 62 4 Petrographs found nbsp Samaca Boyaca zaque 2660 172 9 nbsp San Miguel de Sema Boyaca zaque 2615 90 Lake Fuquene nbsp Siachoque Boyaca zaque 2760 125 nbsp Somondoco Boyaca zaque 1670 58 7 Muisca emerald minesImportant market town nbsp Sutamarchan Boyaca zaque 1800 102 Muisca ceramics production nbsp Tinjaca Boyaca zaque 2175 79 3 Muisca ceramics production nbsp Tipacoque Boyaca zaque 1850 72 1 Chicamocha Canyon nbsp Turmeque Boyaca zaque 2389 106 Important market townFortification between zipa amp zaque nbsp Villa de Leyva Boyaca zaque 2149 128 El InfiernitoLake IguaqueMuisca mummy foundImportant market town nbsp Sora Boyaca zaque 2650 42 nbsp Soraca Boyaca zaque 2942 57 nbsp Sotaquira Boyaca zaque 2860 288 65 nbsp Sutatenza Boyaca zaque 1890 41 26 nbsp Tibana Boyaca zaque 2115 121 76 Petrographs found nbsp Togui Boyaca zaque 1650 118 nbsp Tuta Boyaca zaque 2600 165 nbsp Ventaquemada Boyaca zaque 2630 159 3 nbsp Viracacha Boyaca zaque 2520 68 nbsp Zetaquira Boyaca zaque 1665 262 nbsp Almeida Boyaca zaque 1925 57 98 nbsp La Capilla Boyaca zaque 1750 57 26 nbsp Jenesano Boyaca zaque 2076 59 nbsp Nuevo Colon Boyaca zaque 2500 51 nbsp Rondon Boyaca zaque 2075 158 nbsp Lenguazaque Cundinamarca zaque 2589 15 36 nbsp Macheta Cundinamarca zaque 2094 229 35 Petrographs found nbsp Tibirita Cundinamarca zaque 1980 57 2 Petrographs found nbsp Villapinzon Cundinamarca zaque 2715 249 nbsp Iraca Edit nbsp The Sun Temple was the seat of the iracaCapital Suamox Area 4 163 square kilometres 1 607 sq mi Average elevation 2 630 metres 8 630 ft Last ruler iraca Sugamuxi Date of conquest Early September 1537 Sogamoso Jimenez amp Perez de Quesada Important settlements Suamox Busbanza Firavitoba Gameza and Tota Archaeological remains mummies Sun Temple reconstruction Lake TotaMunicipality Department Ruler s bold is seat Altitude m Surface area km2 Remarks MapSuamox Boyaca iracaNompanimSugamuxi 2569 208 54 Sun TempleMuisca mummy foundMuisca carbon mines nbsp Aquitania Boyaca iraca 3030 943 Lake Tota nbsp Busbanza Boyaca iraca 2472 22 5 Elector of new iraca nbsp Cuitiva Boyaca iraca 2750 43 Lake TotaStatue of Bochica nbsp Firavitoba Boyaca iraca 2500 109 9 Elector of new iraca nbsp Gameza Boyaca iraca 2750 88 Herrera siteMuisca mummy foundMinor Muisca salt minesMuisca carbon minesPetrographs found nbsp Iza Boyaca iraca 2560 34 Herrera siteLake TotaPetrographs found nbsp Mongua Boyaca iraca 2975 365 5 Petrographs found nbsp Mongui Boyaca iraca 2900 81 PetroglyphsBirth places Tortolitas nbsp Pesca Boyaca iraca 2858 282 nbsp Tasco Boyaca iraca 2530 167 Muisca mummy found nbsp Toca Boyaca iraca 2810 165 nbsp Tota Boyaca iraca 2870 314 Lake Tota nbsp Socota Boyaca iracaTundama 2443 600 11 Muisca mummy found nbsp Tibasosa Boyaca Tundamairaca 2538 94 3 nbsp Tundama Edit nbsp The area around Tundama was filled with small lakes of which some bloody evidences remainCapital Tundama Area 2 920 square kilometres 1 130 sq mi Average elevation 2 470 metres 8 100 ft Last ruler Tundama Date of conquest Late December 1539 Duitama Baltasar Maldonado Important settlements Tundama Onzaga Soata Chitagoto now Paz de Rio Municipality Department Ruler s bold is seat Altitude m Surface area km2 Remarks MapTundama Boyaca Tundama 2590 266 93 Seat of TundamaIn ancient lake nbsp Onzaga Santander Tundama 1960 486 76 Important for wool and cotton production nbsp Cerinza Boyaca Tundama 2750 61 63 Monument to the Muisca nbsp Paz de Rio Boyaca Tundama 2200 116 Coca market town nbsp Paipa Boyaca Tundama 2525 305 924 Thermal springs nbsp Sativanorte Boyaca Tundama 2600 184 Herrera site nbsp Sativasur Boyaca Tundama 2600 81 Muisca mummy SO10 IX foundHerrera site nbsp Soata Boyaca Tundama 1950 136 Herrera siteCoca market town nbsp Belen Boyaca Tundama 2650 83 6 Petrographs found nbsp Corrales Boyaca Tundama 2470 60 85 nbsp Floresta Boyaca Tundama 2506 86 nbsp Nobsa Boyaca Tundama 2510 55 39 nbsp Santa Rosa de Viterbo Boyaca Tundama 2753 107 nbsp Susacon Boyaca Tundama 2480 191 nbsp Tibasosa Boyaca Tundamairaca 2538 94 3 nbsp Socota Boyaca iracaTundama 2443 600 11 Muisca mummy found nbsp Independent caciques Edit nbsp Independent caciques headed small communitiesCapital none Area 3 080 square kilometres 1 190 sq mi Average elevation 2 140 metres 7 020 ft Important caciques Guatavita Ubate Chiquinquira Ubaque Tenza VelezMunicipalitybold is major cacique Department Ruler s Altitude m Surface area km2 Remarks MapVelez Santander cacique 2050 271 34 nbsp Chipata Santander cacique 1820 94 17 First town conquered by the Spanish nbsp Guepsa Santander cacique 1540 33 08 Border with GuaneBorder with Yarigui span, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library, article , read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games. © Copyright 2021, All Rights Reserved  |   www.wiki3.en-us.nina.az Rss Feed SiteMap Ping DMCA Contact Us HomePage Closed Call: