Why Pacific Nicaragua Should Not Be Considered Mesoamerican during Prehistory

Summary

During Pre-Columbian times, it is well-known that the societies of Mesoamerica developed monumental architecture with a high level of complexity. During this same period, much if not all of lower Central America never achieved higher complexity other than that of chiefdom level. Honduras is the one major exception. While the societies of Nicaragua had similar gods and ceramics much of this can be explained through other means. The gods that were similar were "lesser" gods and not the main gods that the Mesoamerican groups held central to their beliefs. The ceramics utilized had some similar motifs, but were unique in their own right. This can be seen by the many studies that are coming out in the more recent years. The burials and settlement sizes were significantly different. It is believed that the settlers of Nicaragua during prehistory were a mixture of Mesoamerican and South American heritage. The various sites of Nicaragua illustrate the fact that Pre-Columbian Nicaragua should be considered a group of its own.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 15388