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Research topics in:
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Archaeology |
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Bushnell, Kristina W., "The Effects of Human Ecology in Village Specialization and Inter-Village Relations in the Térraba Basin, Southwestern Costa Rica." Adv. Robert Drolet. Whitman. 1990. 33pp. The goal of this project was to reconstruct the early human ecology associated with two Period III (A.D. 1000-1520) communities in the Térraba Basin, southwestern Costa Rica. Emphasis was placed on determining how local environments influenced the political socio-economic roles of the villages Murciélago and Rivas in their larger, territorial complex. Murciélago's role in the territorial network was one of food-production, as evidenced by large, fertile floodplains, estimated population sizes, tool assemblages, wide accessible river for transportation and communication, fluvial terrace features, and lithic and clay resources. The role of Rivas is less clear, but its characteristics differ sufficiently from the Murciélago site to indicate that it had a distinct function in the larger societal structure. The floodplains of Rivas are less extensive and less fertile than those of Murciélago, food processing tools found were less abundant, and there is a lack of organic foodstuff remains in the soil. This is some of the evidence that leads to the conclusion that Rivas was not a food producing village. Another difference between the two sites is that Murciélago and Rivas, although pertaining to the same territorial policy, may have belonged to distinct trading networks. The river was the cause of the division in the exchange systems. Murciélago was adjacent to a river that served as an efficient means of transportation, whereas the river morphology of Rivas was not conducive to river transport of goods. It seems that the role of Murciélago was dictated by the natural resources and environmental conditions ideal for intensive production of foodstuffs. However, Rivas site depicts that not all specialization is dependent on the availability of natural resources. Rivas illustrated that although there was an abundance of easily attainable wood, few if any woodworking tools were encountered, and although there is no gold source, there is a wealth of worked gold in the area. Chamberlain, Karin, "Bones, Stones and Things Made of Clay: An Archaeological Survey of Hacienda Los Inocentes Costa Rica." Adv. Aida Blanco. Kenyon, 1991. 49pp. During the months of March and April of 1991, I conducted an Archaeological survey of the Hacienda Los Inocentes, located in the northwest corner of Costa Rica, in order to locate sites and derive dates of pre-Columbian occupation. In total, I recorded 10 pre-Columbian activity sites including three cemeteries, two dating to the Early Polychrome Period (AD500-AD800), the third Zoned Bichrome (500BC-AD500), and two boulders with pertoglyphs. The remaining sites did not reveal enough information to be dated. Gearhart, Jana, "Petroglyphs of the Diquís Valley: Past, Present, and Future." Adv. Aida Blanco. Lawrence University. 1995. 25pp. Petroglyphs were studied in the towns of Santa María and San Pedrito de Cajón, of the Valle del General of southwestern Costa Rica during the months of March and April. After their location, the natural characteristics of the area surrounding each rock and individual petroglyph characteristics were documented by means of notes, drawings, photographs and rubbings. Iconographical analysis was performed. Comparisons were made with previously researched petroglyphs of the general area. Known prehistory of the area was studied and documented along with various past theories regarding the petroglyphs. The idea of conservation of the petroglyphs was investigated and some suggestions were presented to the host community of Santa María. Community opinions and plans for future petroglyph conservation were also solicited. Koerner, Reka, "Petroglyphs of the Finca Sonador: Analysis of Distribution, Iconograpfic, Ethnological, Physical and Natural Factors." Adv. Aida Blanco. Carleton. 1993. 35pp. The petroglyphs located in the Cooperative Longo Mai, Finca Soñador in the Valle del General, Costa Rica were studied during the months of March and April. Surveys and interviews were conducted to locate and document the fifty-five petroglyphs found. Anthropomorphic and zoomorphic relief masks were found on the side of petroglyph rocks in addition to pockmarks in petroglyphs that indicate technique of manufacture. Analysis was made of the relation of the petroglyphs to natural resources, other petroglyphs and physical characteristics of the rocks. Iconographical analysis was made of the petroglyphs, and ethnographical information from Talamanca, Costa Rica was used to hypothesis the possible significance of design elements used. The research is meaningful because an extensive survey of the petroglyphs of a limited area has not been done in Costa Rica. Langness, Kristen, "A Study of Petroglyphs of Quebradas, Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica." Adv. Aida Blanco V. Beloit. 1993. 20pp. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the styles of petroglyphs of Quebradas, San Lorenzo, and El Roble (though only a partial study was completed there), Costa Rica, the main focus being on those of Quebradas. Many archaeological projects have been completed previously in Quebradas, but an in-depth study of the petroglyphs has not been realized. In this paper, I analize the overall designs of the petroglyphs of the three towns to demonstrate that there is a specific style of petroglyph for each of the towns, especially in comparison to other petroglyphs of Costa Rica. In addition, I analize the designs of the individual petroglyphs to note the locations of the shapes in the petroglyph in order to see if there is a relationship between the shapes and the quadrant in which they are located. Finally, I briefly discuss the possible significance of the petroglyphs and what the designs might mean. |
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McGuire, Bridget, "Análisis: Dos concheros del sitio Orocú (P-308-Or)" Adv. Juan Vicente Guerrero. Knox College. 1997. 20pp. This paper describes the characteristics of the site Orocú located in the providence of Puntarenas in the Central Pacific. It analyzes, specifically, two shell depositories of the Bagaces Period (300-800 d.C.). It looks for comparisons between the two shell depositories in relation to the way of life of the people who lived there: economics, diets and daily practices. More importantly, it analyzes the relationship between the societies who occupied this area and the societies (chorotegas) who arrived later to the region. There is evidence that there were many changes in the daily life of the society who occupied the are during the Bagaces Period, for example: the use of molluscs as nutrition. Also, this site shows evidence that there was no occupation during the later periods (800-1350 d.C.). This paper discusses possibilities for this absence. Pohlman, Lenora, "A Preliminary Intra-site Survey of Sitio Rivas, A Late Chiriqui Phase Site of the Diquis Region in Southwestern Costa Rica." Adv. Aida Blanco and Jeff Quilter. Knox. 1992. 30pp. Much of the information known about the Diquis archaeological subregion of Southwestern Costa Rica comes from the study of luxury goods recovered from uncontrolled excavations of high-status cemeteries. The excavation of Sitio Rivas, #SJ 148 RV, the habitation area accompanying one such high-status cemetery, is hoped to help provide more comprehensive data concerning the prehistory of the region. This paper reports the findings of an intra-site survey of two components of Sitio Rivas. The objective of the survey is to obtain basic information about the site, such as location of features and distribution of cultural materials, using standard survey techniques. Ross, Jo Ellen, "Preliminary Excavations in a Habitational Area of a Late Chiriqui Phase Site, Southwestern Costa Rica." Adv. Aida Blanco and Jeff Quilter. Knox. 1992. 20pp. March through April of 1992 archeological research was carried out at Sitio Rivas (SJ 148 RV) near the joining of the Chirriqui and Buenavista rivers in southwestern Costa Rica. Large scale excavations were funded during this period by Fulbright, Associated Colleges of the Midwest, and N.C.R. The site consisted of several different archeological operations. However, the focus of this project was to excavate three structures within a smaller habitational area termed operation A. This report will give a detailed listing of the artifacts found, as well as the typeologies and a comparison of the different structures. Through this, information will be gained as to what activities were of importance at the site as well as possible directions for further excavations. Swearngin, Bryan, "Petroglyphs of Santa María and San Pedrito de Cajón, Costa Rica." Adv. Aida Blanco V.. Colorado College. 1995. 26pp. During the months of March and April, 1995, a study was performed to record the petroglyphs located in Santa María and San Pedrito de Cajón in the Valle de El General, Costa Rica. With the initial help of Doña Cecilia Esquivel and many of her students, and through informal interviewing later, the rocks of these regions were located and represented in drawings, photographs, and "frotage" process. We considered the rocks in relation to the natural and human environments, and to other rocks in order to further contextualize them and aid in later iconographic interpretation. Existing archaeology of the region was utilized to place these petroglyphs temporally and culturally. Finally, we considered preventative measures in order to save these rocks from further damage, both natural and human, and to maintain the status of this potentially enormous resource in Costa Rica. |
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