Stone statues in Colombia, which represent more than 500 statues, are located on an area of 250 square miles in San Augustin. Who created them and why is still a mystery.
In particular, who were the people who lived here, where did they come from, and why did they leave behind so many unusual stone statues that were so skillfully carved from stone? Scientists have no definitive answer to any of these questions. Researchers suggest that an unknown people settled in a hilly area on the banks of the Magdalena River at the beginning of 3300 BC. These ancestors of an unknown people carved more than 500 monolithic statues, sarcophagi, and also created many rock paintings.
The public first became aware of the statues about a century ago, when in 1911 the German anthropologist Konrad Preus conducted his archaeological expedition to Colombia. After several years of work in Latin America, Konrad returned to Germany, taking with him 35 statues that were sent to one of the German museums as exhibits.
According to research, the people living in San Augustin were attacked by unknown invaders and were forced to leave their lands and take refuge in the Amazon and Orinoco regions. According to scientists, the disappearance of this highly developed civilization occurred between 1300 and 1400 AD.
The quality of the workmanship of stone statues, sarcophagi and tombs suggests that the civilization that created them was at a very high level of development and expressed its religious and magical beliefs through sculpture.
As for the purpose of the stone statues, neither archeology nor local folklore have been able to establish for what purpose they were created and who exactly they represent.
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