Home Region:  Caribbean (South America and Caribbean)

Tairona

1050 CE 1524 CE
D G SC WF RG EQ 2020  co_tairona / CoTairo
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
250 CE 1050 CE Neguanje (co_neguanje)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity:
No Polity found. Add one here.


  General Description   The name Tairona is generally used in reference to the indigenous groups of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (a mountain range that stretches along Colombia’s Caribbean coast) that came in contact with the Spanish in the sixteenth century, but it is also applied to the prehistoric societies that inhabited that same area, and which are mostly known through the artefacts they left behind. [1] Santiago Giraldo and Juana Saenz have recently estimated that the prehistoric Tairona phase started around 1050 and ended early in the sixteenth century, based on radiocarbon-dated goldwork and complete dated contexts. [2]
Population and political organization
At the time of the Spanish Conquest, the Tairona were organized into independent polities governed by a priestly class and a hierarchy of chiefs. [3] Most likely, this system began to emerge between the eleventh and the twelfth centuries, as suggested by the appearance of several new ceremonial buildings, new spaces dedicated to feasting activities, a general overhaul of the layout of settlements, and evidence for the expansion and intensification of agricultural activities. [4]
The population of a typical Tairona polity likely numbered in the hundreds of thousands, with conservative estimates of as much as 500,000 inhabitants. [5] [6] The largest settlements likely reached a population of a few hundred at the beginning of the Tairona phase, between a few hundred and 4,000 between the twelfth and the fourteenth centuries, and between 3,000 and 5,000 in the century immediately preceding the Spanish Conquest. [5] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

[1]: (Bray 2003, 301)

[2]: (Giraldo 2015, personal communication)

[3]: (Oyuela-Caycedo 2008, 423)

[4]: (Giraldo 2010, 283)

[5]: (Langebaek 2005, 25-7)

[6]: (Giraldo 2010, 57-58)

[7]: (Giraldo 2010, 22-23, 110-111)

[8]: (Giraldo 2014)

[9]: (Oyuela-Caycedo 2008, 419-423)

[10]: (Moore 2014, 395)

[11]: (Giraldo 2009, 25)

General Variables
Identity and Location
Temporal Bounds
Political and Cultural Relations
Language
Religion
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale
Hierarchical Complexity
Settlement Hierarchy
[1 to 3] 1100 CE 1300 CE
[3 to 4] 1400 CE 1524 CE
Religious Level
1
Military Level
[1 to 3] 1100 CE 1400 CE
4 1450 CE 1524 CE
Administrative Level
[1 to 2] 1100 CE 1400 CE
3 1450 CE 1524 CE
Professions
Bureaucracy Characteristics
Law
Specialized Buildings: polity owned
Transport Infrastructure
Special-purpose Sites
Information / Writing System
Information / Kinds of Written Documents
Information / Money
Information / Postal System
Information / Measurement System
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications
Military use of Metals
Projectiles
Handheld weapons
Animals used in warfare
Armor
Naval technology
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequences Coding in Progress.
Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Tairona (co_tairona) was in:
 (1050 CE 1524 CE)   North Colombia
Home NGA: North Colombia
General Variables
Identity and Location Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 18 P Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Original Name Tairona Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Capital Pocigueica Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Capital Taironaca Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Capital Ciudad Perdida Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Capital Pueblito Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Capital Bonda Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Alternative Name Tayrona Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Alternative Name Late Period Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Temporal Bounds Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Duration [1050 CE ➜ 1524 CE] Confident
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Political and Cultural Relations Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations alliance with [---] Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Supracultural Entity Chibchan region Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Succeeding Entity Spanish Empire Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Preceding Entity
250 CE 1050 CE
Neguanje (co_neguanje)   [continuity]  Confident
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Degree of Centralization quasi-polity Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Language Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Chibcha Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Language Atanque Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Religion Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement [100 to 200] people Confident 1100 CE
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Population of the Largest Settlement [150 to 4,000] people Confident 1150 CE 1399 CE
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Population of the Largest Settlement [3,000 to 5,000] people Confident 1400 CE 1524 CE
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Polity Territory 150 km2 Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Polity Population [1,087 to 2,174] people Confident 1050 CE 1349 CE
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Polity Population [7,200 to 8,000] people Confident 1350 CE 1524 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy [1 to 3] Confident 1100 CE 1300 CE
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Settlement Hierarchy [3 to 4] Confident 1400 CE 1524 CE
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Religious Level 1 Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Military Level [1 to 3] Confident 1100 CE 1400 CE
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Military Level 4 Confident 1450 CE 1524 CE
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Administrative Level [1 to 2] Confident 1100 CE 1400 CE
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Administrative Level 3 Confident 1450 CE 1524 CE
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Professions Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier Present Confident Uncertain 1100 CE 1300 CE
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Professional Soldier Absent Confident Uncertain 1100 CE 1300 CE
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Professional Soldier Present Inferred 1400 CE 1524 CE
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Professional Priesthood Present Inferred 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Professional Military Officer Present Confident Uncertain 1100 CE 1300 CE
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Professional Military Officer Absent Confident Uncertain 1100 CE 1300 CE
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Professional Military Officer Present Inferred 1400 CE 1524 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building Absent Inferred 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Merit Promotion Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat Absent Inferred 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Examination System Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Law Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Judge Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Unknown Suspected 1050 CE  1524 CE
Specialized Buildings: polity owned Tairona (co_tairona)
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Market Present Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Irrigation System Present Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Food Storage Site Present Inferred 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System Present Inferred 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Road Present Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Port Present Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Canal Uncoded Undecided 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Bridge Present Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Present Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Information / Writing System Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Script Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Nonwritten Record Present Inferred 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Mnemonic Device Uncoded Undecided 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Sacred Text Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Religious Literature Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Practical Literature Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Philosophy Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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History Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Fiction Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Calendar Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Information / Money Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Token Present Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Precious Metal Present Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Paper Currency Unknown Suspected 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Indigenous Coin Unknown Suspected 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Foreign Coin Unknown Suspected 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Article Present Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Information / Postal System Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
General Postal Service Unknown Suspected 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Information / Measurement System Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Other Measurement System Uncoded Undecided 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Absent Inferred 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared Absent Inferred 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared Absent Inferred 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position Present Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Modern Fortification Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Moat Absent Inferred 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Fortified Camp Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Earth Rampart Absent Inferred 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Ditch Absent Inferred 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Complex Fortification Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Long Wall absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Military use of Metals Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Steel Absent Inferred 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Iron Absent Inferred 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Copper Present Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Bronze Present Inferred 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Projectiles Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Sling Siege Engine Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Sling Unknown Suspected 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Self Bow Present Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Javelin Unknown Suspected 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Handheld Firearm Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Crossbow Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Composite Bow Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Atlatl Unknown Suspected 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Handheld weapons Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
War Club Present Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Sword Absent Inferred 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Spear Unknown Suspected 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Polearm Absent Inferred 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Dagger Absent Inferred 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Battle Axe Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Animals used in warfare Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Horse Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Elephant Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Donkey Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Dog Absent Inferred 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Camel Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Armor Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Unknown Suspected 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Shield Unknown Suspected 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Scaled Armor Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Plate Armor Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Limb Protection Unknown Suspected 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Leather Cloth Unknown Suspected 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Laminar Armor Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Helmet Absent Inferred 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Chainmail Absent Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Breastplate Unknown Suspected 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Naval technology Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel Unknown Suspected 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc Unknown Suspected 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Unknown Suspected 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad Unknown Confident Disputed 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary Unknown Confident Disputed 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic Unknown Confident Disputed 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life Unknown Confident 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward Unknown Confident Disputed 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners Unknown Confident Disputed 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted Unknown Confident Uncertain 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife Unknown Confident Disputed 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites Unknown Confident Disputed 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers Unknown Confident Disputed 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain Unknown Confident Disputed 1050 CE  1524 CE
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Human Sacrifice Tairona (co_tairona)
Variable Coded Value Tags Year(s) See More
Crisis Cases
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Instability Data
Power Transitions
View all Power Transitions