That means that they are landmarks or areas which have been selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as having cultural, historical, scientific or other significance. In fact, they are even legally protected by international treaties! Why, you may ask? These sites are so important that they are considered to be part of the collective interests of humanity.
San Agustín has carvings not just of people, but of animals and deities, or gods. In some regions of the archaeological site where large burial mounds are located, there are more intimidating figures such as snakes, frogs and birds! These were believed to be strategically placed to stand guard for increased protection during the afterlife. Lastly, you can find statues or carvings of what appear to be deities, or gods, of both solar gods, or males, and lunar gods, which were female. These figures and statues help researchers understand the civilization's thoughts and beliefs of life and death.
Similarly, the impressive structures of the hypogeous, as well as the skillfully crafted statues mounted on top or nearby, provide a glimpse into the values of the inhabitants that formed the ancient communities around Tierradentro. Through the volcanic rock that they sculpted, they were able to create incredibly ornate designs and structures that give us a sense of the burial ceremonies that took place, in addition to symbolic representations that mattered most to the civilization. The walls of the tombs in Tierradentro are painted with intricate geometric patterns in red, black and white.
