Full name of site: Buritaca 200 - Ciudad Perdida (Lost City)
Country: Colombia
Short description of site (also include multiple locations if applicable): An archaeological site of a prehispanic town which was only "discovered" in 1972 (though was always known to local Tayrona indigenous people) and is still partly covered by jungle
Criteria (cultural, natural, mixed): Cultural ii, iii, v
Current status: T List
http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/147/Outstanding universal value / comparative analysis:The town dates from c800AD and was occupied until it was abandoned at around the time of the Spanish conquest. It consists of a series of stone terraces (some 150), bridges, paths and remains of housing with some inscribed stones demonstrating the way of life of prehispanic indigenous peoples in the area. Gold figurines and pottery etc have been discovered demonstrating the degree of interchange between peoples and cultures. Ciudad Perdida is believed to have been a political and commercial hub, with a population somewhere between 4,000-10,000 people. It can only be reached via a 4/5 day trek through mountains and jungle past Tayrona villages or by flying in.
There are a fair number of inscribed pre-hispanic sites in South Amaerica but this one stands apart as not belonging to one of the more famous Andean cultures. Is location and atmosphere is special and it is demonstrative of the extent, variety and longevity of indigenous civilizations at the time of the Conquest.
