NO. 1 CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN LATIN AMERICA 59 
diffusion is expressed in the First Painted Horizon, represented by 
Loma and Horno. The settlement pattern continues the same, the 
principal innovation being the first indirect evidence of the cultiva- 
tion of maize in the form of manos and metates. 
In the Andean region a large gap exists at the present state of our 
knowledge between Period I and San Agustin, whose earliest carbon- 
14 date is 2505 ±150 years (Duque Gomez, personal communica- 
tion), placing it chronologically in our Period III. These dates 
would appear to settle in the negative the question as to whether or 
not San Agustin is to be considered part of the Formative Horizon, 
at least as it is defined in South America. No cultural contact ap- 
pears to have existed between the highlands and Caribbean lowlands 
at this time, since the archeological remains are quite different. 
Typical of the San Agustin Culture are monumental stone struc- 
tures, such as temples, tombs, and subterranean galleries ; primary 
burial in tombs covered with stone ; pottery decoration by positive 
and negative bichrome painting, and incisions filled with white pig- 
ment ; vessels with tripod and tall pedestal bases ; and the working of 
gold. The geographical distribution of this culture has not been well 
defined, but evidence has been reported from the departments of 
Cauca and Huila, as well as from the headwaters of several rivers 
draining toward the Amazonian lowlands. Parallels have been noted 
between various of the San Agustin traits and certain Peruvian com- 
plexes such as Chavin and Recuay, as well as with certain Meso- 
american cultures such as Chorotega and Maya. These similarities 
can be more adequately evaluated when the cultural position of San 
Agustin in Colombia is better known. However, there can be no doubt 
that this culture reflects clear influences from these two parts of Nu- 
clear America. 
The San Agustin Culture corresponds to a sedentary population 
that succeeded in developing complex religious concepts, probably ac- 
companied by elaborate ceremonialism. Occupational division of labor 
and social stratification appear to have been characteristic. Agricul- 
ture was the primary subsistence resource. Although the settlement 
pattern has not been clearly defined, it seems probable that the pop- 
ulation was distributed around ceremonial centers, the principal one 
being San Agustin itself. 
Several sites in the extreme northeast of the department of Cauca 
represent the Tierradentro Complex. Its chronology is unknown, but 
similarities have been noted in the pottery and stone sculpture between 
it and San Agustin. Although the San Agustin type of stone archi- 
tecture is completely lacking, it seems likely that Tierradentro may 
