Mastodawn

A ceramic figure from the Tumaco-La Tolita culture (700 BCE- 350 CE). This civilisation spanned the coastal areas of present-day Colombia and Ecuador. It has all the defining features of a shaman: the geometric patterns across the base and the chest, the ceremonial posture, and the erect penis (?). The facial expression may also indicate an altered state of consciousness. The geometric patterns suggest adornment specific to ceremonial function in these ancient Pacific coastal communities.

#TumacoLaTolita #Nariño #Colombia #Esmeraldas #Ecuador #SouthAmerica #preColumbian #precolonial #ancient #shaman #shamanism #shamanic #ceramic #indigenous #museum #archaeology #spirituality #history #photography #photo #fotografia #foto #nature #naturaleza #naturePhotography #pixelfed #travel #landscape #art #arte

Dezoito Apr 9

This could be just rocks with water running through, but this carefully sheltered source with its exquisitely carved stones, part of the San Agustin archaeological park, is a true masterpiece. The Lavapatas ceremonial fountains represent one of South America's most remarkable water sanctuaries, where pre-Columbian artisans transformed natural bedrock into channels, pools, and symbolic carvings that still direct water flow millennia later. The view from the bamboo bridge is much better, but I'll keep for another post!

#Lavapatas #SanAgustin #Huila #Colombia #SouthAmerica #archeology #ancient #history #archaeologicalPark #preColumbian #precolonial #sacred #waters #UNESCO #sanctuary #CulturalHeritage #Columbia #photography #photo #fotografia #foto #nature #naturaleza #naturePhotography #pixelfed #travel #landscape #art #arte

Dezoito Apr 7

I don't often post photos of urban landscapes, but look at this view of Cusco. Cusco is the capital of archaeology in all of South America. At 3,400 metres above sea level, Cusco quite literally sits closer to the heavens. In Cusco the gods are so close you can almost touch them!

#Cusco #Cuzco #Qosqo #Qusqu #Peru #sacredValley #Andes #SouthAmerica #archaeology #capital #highAltitude #terraCotta #roofs #rooftops #Inca #Incas #ancient #history #mountain #mountains #culture #blueSky #blusky #photography #photo #fotografia #foto #nature #naturaleza #naturePhotography #pixelfed #travel #landscape #art #arte #streetPhotography

Dezoito Apr 4

This trail through Machu Picchu wasn't built for tourists but for daily rituals, political messengers, and sacred processions. I still find it hard to believe that my friend walks this ancient way, ahead of me, exactly as thousands did before. Same tropical sky, same Andean mountains and yet completely different times at human scale.

#footpathFriday #MachuPicchu #Cusco #sacredValley #Peru #Andes #SouthAmerica #Inca #ancient #engineering #history #stone #AndeanPathways #trail #hiking #mountain #walking #PathLessTravelled #photography #photo #fotografia #foto #nature #naturaleza #naturePhotography #pixelfed #travel #landscape #art #arte #streetPhotography

Dezoito Apr 2

I stayed a few weeks with a Taita (a shaman) in the mountains of South Ecuador. His place has this huge ground for sacred dancing. At its centre, stands a gorgeous brasero in shape of a seven-pointed sun (or star). I was fascinated by this piece. Unfortunately, I never got to experience a dance ceremony there.

#ceremony #sacred #ritual #dance #dancing #ground #fire #brasero #shaman #Oña #Ecuador #SouthAmerica #ceremonialGrounds #ancestralTraditions #sacredFire #ritualSpace #mountain #indigenous #stones #SevenPointStar #photography #photo #fotografia #foto #nature #natureza #naturaleza #naturePhotography #pixelfed #travel #travels #trip #landscape #art #arte

Dezoito Mar 31

Nature is paradoxical. A beautiful chaos that somehow finds perfect balance. Humans should take inspiration in the resilience of nature and copy its seeming disorder rather resorting to rigid structures. I can't remember taking this photo, but this tree must have struck me back then, when I was in San Agustin, South of Colombia.

#SanAgustin #Huila #Colombia #SouthAmerica #tree #nature #forest #ancientTree #natureWisdom #forestBathing #roots #treeOfLife #wilderness #green #therapy #earth #medicine #Columbia #photography #photo #fotografia #foto #nature #natureza #naturaleza #naturePhotography #pixelfed #travel #landscape

Dezoito Mar 27

Flávio Mar 26

Casa típica do Povo Wajãpi, comunidade indígena que habita o extremo norte da Amazônia brasileira, já na fronteira com a Guiana Francesa. A casa fica suspensa, a quase dois metros do chão. A parte superior é usada para dormir, enquanto a parte de baixo (no solo) é usada para cozinhar, descascar mandioca, brincar com as crianças, além de outras atividades do dia a dia.

* Typical house of the Wajãpi People, an indigenous community that inhabits the far north of the Brazilian Amazon, already on the border with French Guiana. The house is suspended, almost two meters from the ground. The upper part is used for sleeping, while the lower part (on the ground) is used for cooking, peeling cassava, playing with children and other daily activities.

#comunidadeindígena #indígena #indigenous #wajãpi #casa #tradicional #indigenouspeople #cesto #tradicional #brasil #brazil #bresil #brasile #bresilien #amazônia #amazonrainforest #amazon #amazonie