Integrating High Computational and Experimental Aerodynamic Assessment on Pre-Colombian Zoomorphic Tolima Artifact

This study rigorously investigates the aerodynamic performance of a pre-Colombian zoomorphic artifact as the Tolima that exhibits winglike features, merging advanced aerospace engineering with cultural heritage analysis. A high-resolution three-dimensional model was reconstructed from photogrammetric scans, and its aerodynamic behavior was evaluated using high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics simulations (ANSYS Fluent and SU2) alongside controlled wind-tunnel experiments. The artifact was tested over a range of angles of attack (0 deg–15 deg) and freestream velocities (2–30.6 m/s), revealing a peak lift coefficient [Formula: see text] of 1.87 at [Formula: see text], a performance comparable to modern delta-wing configurations. Concurrently, drag coefficients ([Formula: see text]) and the formation of stable leading-edge vortices were observed, underscoring the artifact’s unexpected aerodynamic robustness. Despite these favorable metrics, the findings suggest that the aerodynamic characteristics likely emerged as an incidental byproduct of the artifact’s aesthetic and ritualistic design rather than from an intentional pursuit of flight. By integrating contemporary aerodynamic analysis with an anthropological perspective, this work establishes a novel framework for examining historical artifacts and challenges conventional interpretations of pre-Colombian technological intent. The interdisciplinary methodology not only validates the applicability of modern aerospace tools to ancient craftsmanship but also opens new avenues for exploring the latent functionalities embedded in cultural heritage.