Manteño Culture
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Definition: Sea-faring society of coastal Ecuador, from about AD 800 or so until the Spanish conquest in 1535. Characterized by large regional centers and small villages. Known for its production and trade of decorative ornaments made of mother-of-pearl, spondylus, bone, copper and, sometimes, gold. Three attempts to cross the Pacific between Ecuador and Hawai'i in a Manteno culture-type raft (the Illa Tiki expeditions, linked below) have each ended in failure.
Examples: López Viejo, Sercapez
Related Resources:
Archaeology of Ecuador
Links and resources from your About guide.
South American Archaeology
Archaeological sites and studies of the ancient civilizations and peoples of the South American continent.
Elsewhere on the Web:
Illa Tiki Project
Descriptions of the voyages made by John Haslett and Cameron McPherson Smith in a Manteno culture raft.
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