The Muisca Raft

Since the first European conquistadors set foot on American soil, the search for riches was the main motivation for their expeditions. The El Dorado legend became very popular as a distant land full of gold and precious stones of exotic nature. As the Spaniards approached Muisca territory in 1537, they began to hear rumours  of a ceremony where a great chieftain covered in gold dust threw large quantities of gold and emeralds to the bottom of lake Guatavita. The Muiscas had in fact been making offerings for a very long time in different lakes of the region -Siecha, Iguaque, Guasca and Teusacá - and these ceremonies were made according to sowing and harvest times and by the movements of the stars. Before contact was made with Europe, and based on the accounts made by Spanish chroniclers, we know that upon the death of the Muisca chieftain, the nephew in line as head chieftain was recognized by his people in a ceremony that took place on a lake. It included sailing on a raft made of woo