Ecuador - Manabi

General topic of research

The study of pre-Hispanic groups and their adaptation to Pacific coastal environments, in line with the general direction of research by Mixed Research Unit 8096 on Andean countries.

Director: J-F Bouchard - DR 2, Mixed Research Unit 8096 - CNRS (the National Centre for Scientific Research)

Overview of the region studied and the site

The Manabi Project involves the study of a roughly 20km-long coastal area south of Bahía de Caraquez, between the Río Chone and Río Porto Viejo rivers (see map).

Since 2004, three excavation campaigns have been conducted at the Japoto site, which is located close to the coast and north of the Río Porto Viejo mouth (2004, 2005 and 2006). It is the only genuinely significant manteño site along the coast between the ports of Manta and Bahía de Caraquez.

The archaeological site is located at a distance of approximately 2km from the coastline where the modern village of San Jacinto is built (GPS position: 0°17’37" South, 80°30’36" West). It covers an area of around 50 to 60 hectares or even more. We have conducted our excavations at the centre of the site within a finca of around 20 ha. The site belongs to the manteño culture (the most recent pre-Hispanic period: 700-800 AD to the 16th century). It is of exceptional interest as the only well-preserved pre-Hispanic site with artificial mounds on the central Manabi coast.

The mounds have various shapes (quadrangular, oval and circular) and are up to 60m in length and 20m in width. The height of the mounds ranges between 1m and 3m.

The goals of the expedition include the following: establishing a chrono-cultural sequence, studying built structures (tolas) and images of the site, studying archaeological material and remains (ceramics, bone, stone, metal and shells), and studying the relationship with the environment. Finally, we check all this against ethnohistorical sources relating to the final period of occupation. We believe that these goals will allow us respond to the main questions that arise in relation to this significant site, a manteño seat of regional authority in the lower Porto Viejo valley.

^{Updated on: 01.14.09}