Skeletons Found in El Salvador Shed Light on Pre-Hispanic Life
Skeletons Found in El Salvador Shed Light on Pre-Hispanic Life
World | Agence France-Presse | Updated: July 05, 2014 13:38 IST
San Salvador: Japanese and Salvadoran archaeologists said on Friday they have found three human skeletons in El Salvador from more than 1,600 years ago that could shed new light on early human settlements in the region.
The three nearly complete human skeletons, preserved in volcanic ash, were found near the Pacific coast at a dig called "Nueva Esperanza," about 90 kilometers (55 miles) southeast of the capital.
The area was buried in ash from gigantic eruptions between the 5th and 6th centuries, which has helped preserve evidence of a pre-Hispanic coastal settlement, possibly dedicated to salt production and fishing.
The new find "opens a new door for Salvadoran archaeological investigations, which had (previously) focused only on ceremonial centres," project director Akira Ichikawa told AFP.
He expects more finds at the site, saying the two-metre (seven-foot) layer of volcanic ash hides an "archaeological wealth of evidence about the daily life and livelihood of these ancient coastal residents."
More:
http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/skeletons-found-in-el-salvador-shed-light-on-pre-hispanic-life-553400?curl=1404673969
