El Infiernito
El Infiernito ("The Little Hell"); ancient astronomical site | |
| Location | Villa de Leyva, Boyacá |
|---|---|
| Region | Altiplano Cundiboyacense, Colombia |
| Coordinates | 5°38′50.63″N 73°33′31.41″W / 5.6473972°N 73.5587250°W |
| Type | Archaeoastronomical site |
| Part of | Pre-Muisca sites |
| History | |
| Material | Sandstone |
| Periods | pre-Herrera Period-Late Muisca |
| Cultures | Herrera-Muisca |
| Satellite of | Muisca Confederation |
| Site notes | |
| Archaeologists | Eliécer Silva Celis, Carl Henrik Langebaek et al. |
| Public access | Yes |
El Infiernito (Spanish for "The Little Hell"), is a pre-Columbian archaeoastronomical site located on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense in the outskirts of Villa de Leyva, Boyacá, Colombia. It is composed of several earthworks surrounding a setting of menhirs (upright standing stones); several burial mounds are also present. The site was a center of religious ceremonies and spiritual purification rites, and also served as an astronomical observatory.