Preliminary Results of Archaeological Survey in the Zapatera Archipelago, Granada, Nicaragua

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Reconstructing the Political Organization of Pre-Columbian Nicaragua" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Although archaeology within the Zapatera Archipelago was initially documented in the 19th century due to the islands’ exceptional stone statuary and petroglyph panels, little scientific archaeology or environmental work has taken place there. This paper presents the results from the first season of the Proyecto Arqueológico de Zapatera, which consisted of opportunistic survey drawing on local, community-based knowledge of Zapatera Island and the surrounding smaller isletas. Additionally, it illustrates the considerable potential of digital survey methodologies in a region where such techniques are underutilized. Previous research suggests that despite Zapatera’s proximity to the western coast of the lake, the architectural and ceramic styles more closely resemble those of the Chontales region, on the eastern side of the lake. Therefore, this archipelago is uniquely situated to provide a perspective on networks of interaction across Lake Cocibolca, as well as how those interconnectivities were influenced by microenvironmental variations, exploitation of lacustrine resources and perceptions of landscape. This survey documented human activity areas, evidenced by mounded architecture, petroglyphs and artifact scatters, as well as geomorphological features, to discern relationships between settlement locations, non-occupational activity areas, and prominent constituents within the landscape, which include rivers, rock shelters and volcano peaks.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 84th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM (2019)   •
• Reconstructing the Political Organization of Pre-Columbian Nicaragua

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 24166