Lower Central America which is also referred to as Intermediate Area or Southeastern Mesoamerica (at least in its northern part) includes the Latin American countries of El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama and part of Honduras.
Archaeologically, this cultural area has often been considered in terms of cultural influence from adjacent areas, especially in its similarities and differences with the “Higher Civilizations” of Mesoamerica and South America.
The region of Lower Central America had, of course, important interactions with its northern and southern neighbors, and its internal development has often been underestimated in favor of these external contacts and influence. Luckily, in the last decades, research in this area has shown that internal social dynamics and independent cultural trajectories were of primary importance in the development of lower Central America.
Among the many scholars who have strenuously argued for an independent cultural development for Lower Central America we can include: Doris Stone, Frederick Lange, Payson Sheets, and Oscar Fonseca.
- See the Timeline of Lower Central America/li>
Geography of Lower Central America
Lower Central America presents the all range of tropical climate: from wet to dry. It is possible to distinguish three major physiographic zones:
- A broad, low plain along the Atlantic and Caribbean coast,
- An interior mountain chain formed by the volcanic chain of central Nicaragua, and the volcanic cordillera of Cost Rica.
- A narrow coastal strip along the Pacific.
Two main environmental aspects contributed to the ancient development of this region: the volcanic character of much of lower Central America and its isthmian shape. Even if volcanism occasionally seriously affected human population, in general volcanic ashes produce rich and fertile soils, and other important resources like obsidian, stones and fine clays. Furthermore, the long and narrow shape of Lower Central America, stretching out among the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, provided people in many areas with bicoastal opportunities.
Lower Central American Cultural and Geographic Regions
One of the most pressing issues for archaeologists working in lower Central America has been trying to define the limits between this region and Mesoamerica. Ultimately, researchers concluded that a clear demarcation is impossible and that this divide was somehow fluid through time. The same can be said for its southern end and relations with ancient Colombia and South America.
However, one region of lower Central America that seems to show stronger linkages with Mesoamerica and the Maya culture, especially during the Classic Period, includes Western Honduras, and most of El Salvador.
- This subregion is called Southeastern Mesoamerica or, Southeastern Maya periphery.
Other regions of lower Central America include:
- Greater Nicoya (Nicoya peninsula of Costa Rica, Pacific coast of Nicaragua until the Nicaraguan lakes)
- The Lower Caribbean area (Atlantic Nicaragua and Costa Rica, northern highland of Costa Rica)
- Greater Chiriqui (Highland and Pacific Southern Costa Rica, Diquis region of Costa Rica, Chiriqui region of Western Panama)
- Central and Eastern Panama (Veraguas and Coclé regions, Darien Province).
Lower Central American Culture and People
Some of the linguistic groups of Lower Central America are:Lenca, Pipil, Maya, Jicaque, Chorotega-Mangue, Chibchan, Orotiña, Nicaragua/Nicarao.
Important Sites:
Copan, Los Naranjos, Naco, Gualjoquito, La Sierra, Santo Domingo, Playa de los Muertos, Yarumela, Lo de Vaca, Tenampua (Honduras), Cerén, Chalchuapa, Quelepa, Cihuatán, Tazumal (El Salvador), Las Marias, Nacascolo, Papagayo, Barrahonda, Las Huacas, Vidor, Chachuite Escondido Turrialba, La Montaña, Guayabo, Piedra Pintada (Costa Rica), La Cruz, Los Angeles (Nicaragua), Barriles, Cerro Brujo, La Pitahaya, Aguas Buenas, Playa Venado, Las Huacas, Aguadulce Shelter (Panama)
Sources
This glossary entry is a part of the About.com guide to the Ancient Mesoamerica and the Dictionary of Archaeology.
Lange F. W. and D. Stone (eds.), 1980, The Archaeology of Lower Central America, School of American Research, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.
Lange, Frederick W. (ed.) 1996 Paths to Central American Prehistory. University of Colorado Press, Boulder