Zenues

The Zenú inhabited the lowlands of the Sinú and San Jorge river systems, north of the forested Paramillo mountains. Their ancestors built extensive networks of canals in the floodplains of the lower San Jorge, managing water across a vast wetland landscape. Zenú goldsmiths made ornaments notable for fine filigree and depictions of people and animals, including birds. Their goldwork later drew the attention of Spanish expeditions from the Caribbean coast.

By the time of Spanish conquest, many Zenú communities occupied higher savannas outside the most heavily flooded lands. Gold objects and burial places drew the attention of conquerors who advanced from Cartagena in search of wealth. The upper Sinú also belongs to the ancestral river country of the Emberá Katío, whose communities inhabit valleys descending from Paramillo.