quimbaya The area bounded by the Central and Eastern cordilleras, between the rivers Otun and Paila and the tributaries of the fast flowing river Cauca was inhabited by the Quimbaya nation. This culture was outstanding for its masterpieces in gold and ceramic. As goldsmiths they were never surpassed in the prehispanic cultures and their work bears comparison with workers with a higher level of technology. Their bracelets, rings, breastplates, pins, brooches, needles and golden staffs are realistic, perfect and elegant, as are their anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figures, which surpass anything which could be expected from a society at this level of development, since they show an advance degree of manufacturing techniques. Work in filigree on flat surfaces, the precision of the angular intersections and the subtility and variety of the lines of work, show great taste and artistic ability.