Archaeology Museum, Sogamoso Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Archaeology Museum
Museo Arqueológico de Sogamoso
The reconstructed Sun Temple
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Established	1942
Location	Calle 9ª No. 6-45 Sogamoso, Colombia
Type	Archaeology
Collection size	4000
Founder	Eliécer Silva Celis

The Archaeology Museum of Sogamoso is a super cool place in Sogamoso, Colombia. Its full name is the Parque Museo Arqueológico "Eliecer Silva Celis". This museum is all about archaeology, which is the study of old things people left behind.

It shows off amazing discoveries from the area around Sogamoso, which was once a sacred "City of the Sun." The museum has about 4,000 items from the ancient Muisca people and the Herrera Period.

A famous archaeologist named Eliécer Silva Celis started the museum in 1942. He also helped rebuild the Sun Temple right there at the museum! Since 1953, the museum has been looked after by the Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia in Tunja.

What You Can See at the Museum
Gallery
See also

What You Can See at the Museum

The museum is more than just a building; it's also an archaeological park! It has different sections that teach you about the past.

Exploring Ancient Times

You can learn about paleontology, which is the study of ancient life like dinosaurs and old plants. There are also sections about the time before Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas, known as the pre-Columbian era.

The Muisca People and Their Culture

A big part of the museum is dedicated to the Muisca people. You can see their musical instruments and even their clothing. There are also real mummies on display, which are preserved bodies from long ago.

The museum shows how the Muisca people worked with metals, a skill called metallurgy. You can also see reconstructed bohíos, which were the traditional houses of the Muisca.

The Sun Temple

The most exciting part of the museum is the rebuilt Sun Temple. This temple is about 18 meters (59 feet) tall! It was a very important place for the Muisca people.

Important Leaders and Discoveries

Inside the museum, you'll find a sculpture of Sugamuxi. He was the last iraca, or spiritual leader, of Sogamoso.

The museum also holds special events. Around the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year), they have the Fiesta del Huán. This festival is connected to the Conchucua fountain, where the iraca used to bathe.

In 2015, something new was found right on the museum grounds: an ancient grave! This shows that there are still many secrets to uncover about the past.