The Spaniards called the mountainous inland knots and deepest canyons in the northeastern department of Cauca, where they felt between mountains. Since 1000 B.C. lived there communities of farmers and potters. Middle Period (150BCto900AD) outf its come with luxury metal objects found in tombs of shaft and chamber; in contrast to the rich grave goods, few other graves contained pottery vessels. However, they are best known secondary burials or underground burial chambers hewn in hipogeos mountain peaks with shapes reminiscent of the dwellings of the living. In them pottery urns containing the exhumed bones of one or more individuals were placed. Anthropomorphic statues medium sized with features and naturalistic expressions are also carved. The current indigenous Paez reached Tierradentro after the Conquest.