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Zenú

Location: Colombia, in the regions of Cordoba, Antioquia, Chocó, Sucre, and Bolivar.

History: The Zenú people inhabited a large part of the plains of the Colombian Caribbean as well as other regions like Antioquia and Chocó from around the year 200 B.C. until the Spanish conquest. They were divided in three main areas. The first area was known as Finzenú; in this area was located the principal religious temple of the Zenú as well as the biggest cemetery where many of their most important people were buried. The second area was known as Panzenú; they were the main producers of food of this civilization due to the fertility and great variety of crops in the region. The last area was known as Zenufana, and they were characterized by their ability to work metals. Each area was rules by a Cacique.

Daily Life: The Zenú people were mainly farmers that grew a variety of crops like plantains, beans, cacao beans, and others. They also domesticated animals. The agricultural activity of this culture was not dedicated to trading or other commercial purposes but rather for their own use. They were skilled goldsmiths as well; they created complex objects from different metals for decoration purposes and religious activities. Many of their pieces represented their surroundings with realistic and well-designed images that included humans, animals, and plants. They also liked to include natural scenes in their creations; a famous one is the image of a feline fighting an alligator.

Religion: The Zenú had many rituals and ceremonies. One of the more important rituals was the ceremony of death, common in the Finzenú area. First they had something like an aquatic parade in which the death body was put on a floating device carefully decorated and placed in the river. Religious and political figures would go along with the body in little vessels. After the parade they would go to a selected place and bury the body then dance, drink, and eat on top the grave. Once the chicha (the local liquor) was finished the ceremonial leader planted a local seed on top of the grave.

Best known features: The Zenú civilization was very organized and developed. One of their most impressive accomplishments was the construction of a complex hydraulic system made up of many channels and elevated surfaces that worked for more than a 1000 years. The Zenú used this irrigation system to take advantage of the constant rain inundations in the region.

Sources

Zenú. Electronic document, http://www.etniasdecolombia.org/indigenas/zenu.htm, accessed June 3, 2009.

Culturas precolombinas. Electronic document, http://www.udistrital.edu.co/colombia/culturas/sinu.php, accessed June 3, 2009.

Muiscas, la Gente y el Oro en las llanuras del caribe. Electronic document, http://www.banrep.gov.co/museo/esp/s_zenu.htm, accessed June 4, 2009.

Additional Reading

Zenu
Colombia Languages
South American Native Tribes

Zenu [archive]

Zenú

Sources

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