Why was the discovery of the Tairona city in the Santa Marta massif important to archaeology?

The discovery of the Tairona city in the Santa Marta massif was a significant turning point in the study of Colombia’s prehistory because it challenged long-held archaeological assumptions.1

Prior to the excavation of this 1,500-acre (600-hectare) site, which began in 1976, it was widely believed that no indigenous group in the region had constructed large architectural monuments comparable to those built by the Aztecs, Mayas, or Incas. The site, which dates to approximately 900 ce, provided physical evidence of sophisticated urban planning and stone construction, proving that the Tairona had achieved a much higher level of architectural development than previously recognized. This discovery fundamentally shifted the understanding of the cultural complexity and organizational capabilities of pre-Hispanic societies in Colombia.12