ADJUDICACIóN Y CONFLICTOS POR TIERRAS COMUNALES EN LOS PUEBLOS DE INDIOS DE CIéNAGA Y GAIRA EN LA GOBERNACIóN DE SANTA MARTA, 1700-1810*

this article examines the ways indigenous towns located in several villages near the city of santa marta (new kingdom of granada) establishedagree-ments with representatives of the spanish crown in this border zone of the colombian caribbean as a mechanism to avoid their extermination and, in return they received from the crown a special treatment. first they received a reduction on their taxes, then their tribal chiefs looked for the exoneration of taxes to their families, later they were congregated in villages of indians and they received communal grounds. it equally indicates that the natives once obtained the neighbors' category, advanced in the use of the political / administrative regulation to claim some acquired rights in their favor that they considered were part of that reciprocal agreement and that were questioned by the neighbors and noble people of the city of santa marta: exemptions in the tax tribute and, especially access to communal grounds.