page_title: Checua
section_title: Human occupation phases
hierarchical_section_title: Checua / Human occupation phases
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Dösendes Hausmeerschweinchen (Cavia porcellus)
context_page_description: Checua is a preceramic open area archaeological site in Nemocón, Cundinamarca, Colombia. The site is located 7 kilometres north of the town centre. At Checua, thousands of stone and bone tools, stone flakes and human remains have been found, indicating human occupation from around 8500 to 3000 years BP.
  Main archaeologist for Checua is Ana María Groot, who published the results of her research in 1992.
context_section_description: Analysis of the various stratigraphic levels and the tools found, led to the identification of four zones of human occupation within a total time span of 5500 years (6500–1000 years BCE). The first zone, dated to about 8500 to 8200 years BP, contains mostly scrapers and perforators used for the elaboration of meat and animal skins. The second zone of occupation, lasting from about 8200 to 7800 years BP, consists of various burial sites. Here, also scrapers and perforators were found, together with the main ingredients of the diet of the people; white tailed deer and guinea pig. In this zone, the bone flute has been unearthed. The third level corresponds to the seventh stratigraphical unit where many bone fragments were found. The unit has been compared to Aguazuque for dating at around 5000 years BP, possibly lasting till 4000 years BP. As is the case with Aguazuque, the fourth and uppermost zone has been disturbed by modern agricultural activities and the presence of glass indicates contamination with postcolonial influence. A top age for the sequence has not been provided, but an occupation until 3000 years BP is suggested.
caption: As at Tequendama and Aguazuque, abundant remains of the domesticated guinea pig have been found at Checua
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