Cauca culture (800–1200 CE) is a pre-Columbian culture from the Valle del Cauca in Colombia, named for the Cauca River. Middle Cauca culture dates from the 9 to 10th centuries CE.[1]
Their territory was near the present day city of Popayán, in the Calima River Valley.
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Archaeologists surmise that Cauca culture was organized into several related chiefdoms that trades and fought with each other.[1] They farmed and made ceramics and goldwork.
Their art often featured avian imagery. Cauca culture art shared some similarities to Yotoco culture art.[1] They are known for ceramic slab figurines, representing humans–both female and male–with dramatically angular features.[2]
Cauca goldsmiths hammered and cast gold to create a range of figures and ornaments, including diadems and bracelets.[1] They created caricuri noserings from gold.[3]