The history of emerald mining in Colombia: An examination of Spanish-language sources

Abstract

This article presents a review of Spanish-Language sources on the history of emerald mining and trading in Colombia from colonial times to the present with a special focus on the late 20th century. Sources are drawn from academic history, anthropology and political science, but also from books produced by mining organizations, journalistic exposés and popular history and fiction. They chronicle the history of violence that characterized the mining area from the 1550s to the 1990s as well as the peace established among miners in 1991. The history of emeralds is intimately tied up with the history of the Colombian nation, its violent struggles and its hopes for a peaceful and prosperous future.