Roughly between 200 BCE and 800 CE, the San Agustín culture, masters of stonecutting, enters its “classical period".
They erect raised ceremonial centers, sarcophagi, and large stone monoliths depicting anthropomorphic and zoomorphhic forms out of stone.
Some of these have been up to five meters high.Related to the San Agustín culture are the inhabitants of Tierradentro (“inner land”, so called because of its inaccessibility) who create over one hundred and fifty underground tombs, or hypogea; their walls and ceilings are richly decorated with geometric forms recalling the interior of palm huts.
Also in the tombs, dating from the 6th to 9th centuries CE, are found funeral urns, bowls, and pitchers.