Astronomical Phenomena in the Cultural Practices of the Kumba-Quimbaya Indigenous Community of Colombia (2023)
Daniela Sánchez-Giraldo (Author)
Edwin A. Quintero-Salazar (Author)
Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage
Volume: 26
Issue: 3
Pages: 621-636
The Quimbaya were a South American native people who inhabited the central region of Colombia, extinct due to the Spanish colonization. However, it was recently discovered that the Kumba-Quimbaya indigenous community, currently living in the village of La Iberia in the municipality of Riosucio, Caldas, is descendant of the ancient Quimbaya culture. This paper describes the implicit astronomical phenomena found in the cultural practices of the ancestral Kumba-Quimbaya people and characterizes the relationship between these practices and the daily activities of this community. This qualitative study relies on three ethnographic techniques to gather information: participant observation, field diaries, and interviews, which were conducted during visits to the community’s rural settlement. The information was systematized in a textual corpus and processed through content analysis. We identified 10 astronomical phenomena embedded within the cultural practices of this community. The phases of the Moon are used to schedule ceremonies and festivities, agricultural activities and within their traditional cuisine. We also identified the ritual use of geography through the observation of the location of the Sun and the Moon with respect to sacred mountains. Likewise, we evidenced the influence of a lunar calendar of their own in current social activities. This work allowed us to describe the relationship between astronomical phenomena and the daily activities of the community, such as rituals to improve their harvests, perform plantings, or anticipate climatic or seasonal changes. These findings contribute to the knowledge of the customs and traditions of the Quimbaya people, as well as broaden our understanding of the use of astronomy by pre-Columbian peoples.
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