Aldeas y pueblos prehispánicos en la costa de Manabí: Chirije y Japoto

Abstract

This paper deals with prehispanic sites, Chirije and Japoto, both located on the seashore or nearby the shore of the Pacific ocean, between the mouth of the Chone river at north, and the mouth of the Porto viejo river at South. Chirije appears to be a small hamlet, tipical of the cliffy coast, located at the very mouth of an «estero» ( seasonal stream or wadi). Japoto, on the contrary, appears to be a large village, with many articial mounds (locally called «tolas»). It stands on the right side of the lowlands at the mouth of the river. It is one of the best sites of the manteña culture that remains well preserved by the present time. Both sites are studied by an archaeological project since 2003.

Keywords

• Ecuador
• Manabi
• tolas
• manteña culture
• artificial earth mounds