Exchange, production and consumption of exotic and exclusive goods in the delta of Diquís, Costa Rica.

Summary

Exchange and consumption of various goods in late prehistoric period chiefdom societies of the Diquís Delta, southern Costa Rica is discussed. Because of its geographical position and socio-economic development the Diquís region had a major role in exchange and regional relations, in Greater Chiriquí (southeastern Costa Rica and western Panama), and at the extra regional level (southern Central America). Various goods (metal objects, statuary, polychrome and biscuit pottery, polished axes, stone spheres, etc.) had different areas of distribution and consumption within Greater Chiriquí that have been related to manufacturing sites and centers of power.

At the same time, in major sites like Finca 6 and Caño Island, fragments and whole pottery vessels from Guanacaste (NW Cost Rica) have been found, suggesting trade routes along the Pacific coast. This pottery has been found in contexts along with other polychrome types and anthropo- and zoomorphic statuary with a restricted area in the Diquís delta, suggesting the acquisition of exotic goods and production of exclusive goods by the delta´s chiefdom societies.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)   •
• Trade, exchange, production and consumption in pre-Columbian and colonial Lower Central America (Panama Nicaragua and Costa Rica)

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