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GENERAL INFORMATIONS: Archeology  |
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Costa Rica can be divided into three general zones (Guanacaste-Nicoya, Central Highlands-Atlantic Watershed and Diquis) whose cultures produced artifacts of distinctly different styles, especially after 500 A.D. Natural boundaries, like the Cordillera Central and the Talamanca mountain range were of considerable importance in the development of this cultural diversity.
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Archeological sites around Buenos Aires
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According to National Museumin San Jose, about 200 archeological sites around Buenos Aires will be flooded because of the planning hydroenergy project.
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Diggings in Alajuelita
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Lately (year 2001), in Alajuelita appeared the new archeological site. It`s a Indian cementery dated to 900 - 1.500 A.D. It`s the first such a place discovered at the western side of Meseta Central. There were found 40 archeological pieces: ceramic, stone tools, matates, arches and golden ornaments.
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Jades
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Many Costa Rica Indian tribes were keen on sculpting in
jades. But there wasn`t confirmed the jade covering in Costa Rica. There is a
hipotesis that they were being moving by Olmecs and Mayas to Costa Rica and
handling in forms of exchange of goods.
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Periods of culture
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Historians distinguished six cultural periods in Costa
Rica: I. (12000 B.C.-8000 B.C.), II. (8000 B.C.-4000 B.C.), III. (4000 B.C.-1000
B.C.), IV. (1000 B.C.-500 A.D.), V. (500 A.D.-1000 A.D.), VI. (1000-1550
A.D.).
The first traces of human being in Costa Rica dated from
the IIIth period. The IVth period was characterized by establishment of
villages, the social hierarchy forming and development of jade productions. In
the Vth period, the skill of ceramic making developed. In the VIth period the
villages were ordered by cacigues. They were ruined or left shortly after
Spaniards arriving.
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Stone spheres
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In south-west Costa Rica are discovered huge number of
almost perfect granite and andesite spheres. They are spot in Palmar vicinity,
Diquis Valley and on Cano Island, along river beds. Who made them and how? How
were they transported over 30 kms from the source of the stone to the ceremonial
sites and what do they mean is a mistery. They were probably astronomical
symbols of great personal value, but there was also a hipotesis that they were
projectiles shots from star-ships. Some weigh up to 16 tons, measuring up to 2
metres in diameter to within a centimeter or two. Many of them were moved to San
Jose area and are featured in museums (Museum Nacional), Airport in Liberia and in some residences
gardens.
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Archeologists in San Rafael de Oreamuno
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On November 2001, in the center of San Rafael de Oreamuno, archaeologists from the National Museum have examined some 40 pre-Columbian tombs. They found a large number of vases and only a few bones. Only in two of the tombs they found bones. The most likely reason is that the acidity of the soil in this area contributed to the disappearance of the remains.
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