Cara Sucia (Mesoamerican site)

Cara Sucia on the map of El Salvador

Cara Sucia is a pre-Columbian archaeological site in the department of Ahuachapán in El Salvador. Most of the researchers it is assigned to the Cotzumalhuapa culture. The north-east location of Cara Sucia highlands, called El Imposible is, with about 3,800 ha the most extensive contiguous forest in El Salvador and in 1989 became a National Park ( Parque National) explains.

Location

Cara Sucia lies at an altitude of about 40 m above sea level. inst in the municipality of San Francisco Menéndez in Cara Sucia Cantón, on the grounds of the Hacienda Cara Sucia. The plant is located about 115 kilometers to the west of the state capital of San Salvador; the Pacific coast is about 15 km south.

History of Research

The archaeological site of Cara Sucia was discovered during clearing work. In the literature mentioned in the late 19th century for the first time when he placed there the findings disco del Jaguar, a stone disk, Cara Sucia reported by Santiago Ignacio Barbarena ( 1851-1916 ).

Since 1976 there are archaeological excavations here. The extent of the archaeological site is estimated to be 20 ha. It will be explored 2 of 24 hills. Building complex I, 900 AD, upper town is called, and building complex II was a ball court. Although Cara Suica is one of the most important archaeological sites in western El Salvador, it currently offers little visual stimulation for visitors. The place consists of grassy hills, some of impressive proportions. A path leads past some of the higher hills.

History

The evidence indicates that Cara Sucia was in the 2nd century BC - that is still in the pre-classical period - populated and thus one of the earliest evidence of agricultural settlements in southern Mesoamerica. The site was probably culturally influenced in the late classical period through the territory of Cotzumalhuapa in the south of Guatemala. This is indicated by the previously discovered sculptures, architecture and ceramics. The place was abandoned by 900; it seems that the immigration of the Nahuatl - speaking Pipilen to do with leaving the site.

Sculptures

In 1976, Stanley H. Boggs published an article about sculptures from this place. Paul amaroli is currently conducting studies in Cara Sucia and interpreted the discovery of artifacts from Cotzumalhuapa as traces of a temporary rule this region through Cara Sucia.

• No sculpture. 1: Disco del Jaguar: disc diameter 85 cm; Width 30 cm relief representation on the one hand Jaguar head towards fighting people. It is located in the Museo Nacional de Antropologia, Dr. David J. Guzmán.
• No sculpture. 2: Stele Height: 1.60 m; Width: 0.60 m on four sides showing the skin of a snake. In the upper section of a jaguar is shown in combat with a snake. The stele is connected to a cylindrical nail with the base plate.
• No sculpture. 3: Stele Height: 1.88 m; Width: 0.45 m, showing a man, above a skull and crossbones.
• No sculpture. 4: Stele Height: 0.63 m; Width: 0.50 m, in which the body of a snake was engraved.