QUITO (MANTA), ECUADOR

Today our port was in the city of Manta.  Here’s the write-up:  Known for a vibrant tuna-fishing industry and white-sand beaches, Manta has long been closely linked to the rhythms of the sea.  The city boasts the largest seaport in Ecuador and a bustling Fish Market brimming with enormous sea bass, tuna and countless other creatures hauled in from Pacific waters fed by the mineral-rich Humboldt Current.  Founded as a pre-Colombian trading post known as Mantas, the city celebrates its heritage with craft exhibits.  But the craft scene really thrives in nearby Montecristi, celebrated for its intricate wickerwork and original Panama hats.  Manta is also the gateway to Ecuador’s dynamic Andean city of Quito, the northern capital of the Inca Empire and one of the world’s highest capitals at 9,200 feet.

I did not visit the port city of Manta, Ecuador.  There was a virus going around the ship and unfortunately I caught it.  I didn’t leave the ship - actually, my stateroom either, for two days.  Therefore, I have no post for this port.  HOWEVER, Mark got off the ship and went on an excursion to an archaeological site.  He wants to share his experience, so he will be doing this blogpost!

Hello all, Mark here.  As Barb has mentioned before, I occasionally provide a small amount of input on her post.  Barb is the originator & driving force who does almost all of the work and creative content.  My role is usually that of minor assistance: some pictures, background info, geography, fact checking and proof readings.  While she is the creative driver who lives in the aesthetic moment, I’m the inquisitive one who asks: who, why, how, when, and where?  So, here comes the some archeological history, facts & speculation about South America that I found intriguing and want to share with you.  

SOUTH AMERICA IS A LOST CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION

Ancient pre-Columbian history of South America is terribly under-represented in most teaching of history.  It seems to have been lost or overlooked by most Western historians until the Twentieth Century - the last 100 years or so.  Historians acknowledge there is much more to be discovered & unraveled about this “Lost World”.   Scholars now agreed there were 6 “Cradles of Civilization”: Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, the Indus Valley, Mesoamerica (Central America), and most recently acknowledged is the Andean Culture of South America!  These are the 6 earliest societies which seem to have independently developed organized populations with cities, technologies, and unique cultures without influence from outside sources. All other societies evolved from these 6 cradles.  

You might be surprised to learn that the first culture in the world to perfect & religiously practice mummification was the Andean Culture, not Egypt!  Also the first pyramids were built by the Andeans, at least 500 years before the first Egyptian pyramids.  The Andean culture also built some of the first stone cities in the world over 5000 years ago.  They perfected their agriculture with widespread terraces & irrigation of crops.  Their agricultural expertise was so effective that there was no famine, no shortage of food at the time when “Black Death” plagues were devastating Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Andean textiles were far ahead of their contemporaries.  Metallurgy & fine art works of gold, silver, and copper were prominent in South America long before the arrival of Westerners.  Prior to the arrival of the Spanish & Portuguese in the pre-Colombian 1500’s, South America was populated by tens of millions of people, and there were many kingdoms and empires.  Evidence clearly demonstrates that South American pre-Columbia society seems to have been much further advanced than any North American societies in prehistory.  

There is also a growing body of evidence that suggests humans migrated into South America (and probably North America too) long before the last glacial period 10 to 12 thousand years ago …. as we were taught as children.  There is an archaeological site in the most southern part of South America called Monte Verde, where there is generally accepted evidence of human habitation going back at least 15,000 years.  There are other locations in Brazil as well as the Andes western coast yielding a growing body of evidence from 9,000 to 30,000 years old …. Granted, many of these findings are currently contested, and not yet generally accepted.  It does make you wonder how did this happen, when, where did they come from, and by what peoples?  Was there seaborne migration to South America similar to that of the Australian Aborigines (50-65,000 years ago)???  Were there multiple waves of migration by different peoples coinciding with the climate change glacial periods of those periods?  How did they get there?  

So, enough about this newly exposed & incredible history.  Following are some neat pictures of the Cerro Jaboncillo Archeological site near Manta, Ecuador, along with museum artifacts of this pre-Colombian Andean society.  

Houses of the native villagers in pre-columbian cultures

Tribal chiefs, elders & shamans in council. Women were also prominent members of the ruling classes.

 

Archeological site

This is the tour group & guides

The following pictures show exhibited items from the museum at the archeological site.  Also note the two women who served as our native Indian guides.  They trace their bloodlines back to the peoples of this archaeological region.  Our guides were very knowledgeable and very proud of their heritage! 

Textiles - made from natural fibers and alpaca dyed and woven

Pottery, carved stonework, and a burial ceramic urn

Following our visit to the Cerro Jaboncillo archeological museum, we toured the city of Montecristi and surrounding communities.  As noted in the opening description, this is the region of Ecuador which originated and still produces the finest “Panama hats” and other hand weaved products.  The finest of these handmade hats cost several hundred dollars, even into the thousands of dollars.  

Sadly, our tour of the region also exposed a very low standard of living in Ecuador (and neighboring Peru).  Our guide said the average income in Ecuador is less than $500 per month.  Most folks live in poverty while there are very few people earning middle and upper income outside the major cities. You will note there are many pictures of impoverished communities, but only one “middle income gated neighborhood “ that we saw.  However, I was impressed with the pride these people have in their history, culture, and communities.

Montecristi city….. The very large statue above depicts the making of a “Panama Hat”

I look forward to future revelations regarding the first peoples of the new world. Also hopeful that the future brings more prosperity and happiness to the peoples of South America.