Manteño guancavilca culture
The Manteña-Guancavilca is a pre-Columbian culture that existed in Ecuador from the 7th century to the 16th century . It stretched from south of Manabi Province to north of Guayas .
A sea empire
The people of this culture specialized in the trade in precious metals and mussels , but also fishing and fish farming was carried out. The maritime trade of this culture was of great importance in the regional political system in the area of the nearby Maya Empire . They carried handcrafted black stone containers for grain on large rafts and they used heavy round stones for clam diving. There is evidence of maritime trade between this culture and other cultures in the countries of the South American Pacific coast such as B. Peru , Mexico or Panama .
cult
In the area of the Manteño-Guancavilca culture, around forty incense pots were found, often decorated with an enthroned figure carrying a vessel on his head. The meaning of this figure is not known; a religious leader may be depicted. Other vessels have images depicting figures with feminine hairstyles holding hands (on the fingers). Images of animals such as cats and bats sitting on a throne were also found.
traces
The Manteño Guancavilca culture disappeared soon after the arrival of the Spaniards, especially due to occidental diseases promoted by heat and humidity. Today the Zacachum community has registered a claim to the legacies of the Manteño-Guancavilca culture, which should secure them the recognition as descendants of the Manteño-Guancavilca culture and the possession of the old territories. Today this allows better archaeological and anthropological studies on the pre-Columbian relics in the area of development of this culture. In 1956 , relics of the Valdivia , Chorrera , Machalilla , Guangala and Manteño-Guancavilca cultures were found in the excavations .
