El Abra
Petroglyph of El Abra
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 Location within Colombia
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| Location | Zipaquirá, Cundinamarca |
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| Region |
Bogotá savanna Altiplano Cundiboyacense  Colombia
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| Coordinates | 5°01′02.49″N 73°57′04.33″W / 5.0173583°N 73.9512028°WCoordinates: 5°01′02.49″N 73°57′04.33″W / 5.0173583°N 73.9512028°W |
| Altitude | 2,570 m (8,432 ft) |
| Type | Rock shelter, petroglyphs |
| Part of | Pre-Muisca sites |
| History | |
| Material | Sandstone |
| Abandoned | Herrera Period |
| Periods | Prehistory-Herrera |
| Cultures | Preceramic hunter-gatherers |
| Site notes | |
| Archaeologists | Correal, Hammen |
| Public access | Yes |
El Abra is an archaeological excavation site, located in the valley of the same name, east of the city of Zipaquirá, department Cundinamarca, Colombia; on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, at an altitude of 2,570 metres (8,430 ft). This cave system is one of the first evidences of human settlement in the Americas, dated at 12,400 ± 160 years BP, used by the hunter-gatherers of the late epoch. The rock shelter, containing petroglyphs, is situated at the northern edge of the Bogotá savanna.
The first research in the place was conducted in 1967, and the stratigraphy of lithic instruments, bones and vegetal charcoal with radiocarbon dating established the date of the settlement in 12,400 ± 160 years BP.
In 1960, the Indiana University collaborated in a deeper research. In 1970 the Dutch Foundation for the Advancement of Tropical Research (NWO-WOTRO) discovered four new preceramic sites and the analysis of lacustrine sediments allowed a more accurate understanding of the paleoclimate and flora.
The Fúquene stadial, named after Lake Fúquene, close to the village of the same name, is defined from 15,000 to 12,500 BP. It is characterized by a cold climate, flora typical of páramo ecosystems, and lithic tools.
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