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Ecuador boasts a number of important and well-preserved archaeological sites that contain the remnants of ancient pre-Colombian societies. A few of the highlights are:
1. Real Alto – located in the province of Santa Elena along the Ruta del Spondylus, on the turnoff to the town of Chanduy, this site was discovered in 1971 and excavated by a team of researchers from the University of Illinois. The site is dated to 4400 to 1700 B.C., placing it in the middle to late Valdivia period, and shows evidence of the first agricultural settlements in the Americas that used pottery. There are two museums at the site. One is an excellent archaeology museum, showing the process of the excavations and presenting 10,000 years of history of the Santa Elena Peninsula. The second is an ethnographic museum fashioned from the region’s traditional building materials. The museums are open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, and admission is $2.
2. Sumpa – this small but worthwhile site and museum is located near Santa Elena, at the location where the remains of a couple commonly known as the “Sumpa lovers” was unearthed. The couple were members of the Las Vegas culture (8,800 to 4,600 BC). The on-site museum is home to the skeletons, a description of the archeological processes used in the dig, and a model peasant dwelling. It is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, and on Sundays from 11 am to 3 pm, and admission is $1.00 for adults, and $0.50 for children.
3. Salango – in the province of Manabi, which is a few minutes to the north of Puerto López, this tiny village boasts an excellent on-site museum. The museum houses a collection of 245 pieces of pre-Colombian ceramics dating between 5000 to 1500 BC. The displays include well-researched descriptions of history and usage which gives extensive background on the cosmo vision and cultural of the societies in question. There is also a library and a small gift shop. It is open on Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm.
Ecuador boasts a number of important and well-preserved archaeological sites...
4. Santa Elena Peninsula – located in the province of the same name, Santa Elena has some interesting pieces. Along the Ruta del Spondylus, the peninsula is one of the richest archeological areas in the country, and features the remains of the ancient Valdivian culture. The local Valdivia museum houses some of the artifacts discovered in the region, including the remains of human beings, clay female fertility statuettes, and various vessels. While the display conditions are not the best, the museum nonetheless has an interesting collection. It is open Monday through Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm.
5. Japotó – located in the province of Manabi near to Charapotó, this 29 hectare site was a city inhabited by the ancient Manteña culture and contains a total of 64 “tolas” (burial mounds). In caverns near the site, close to Chone, several petroglyphs may be also observed. Currently, visits to the site consist of informal guided tours and infrastructure is minimal, but plans are underway to make Japotó into a tourist attraction with more amenities and an on site museum.
6. La Tolita – this site is located at the outlet of the Santiago river near to the town of San Lorenzo in the province of Esmeraldas. The site itself is an island that can only be reached by motorboat from San Lorenzo (a ride of about a ½ an hour). The island itself was a ceremonial center for the La Tolita culture (600 BC – 400 AD), with numerous burial mounds and an impressive quantity of finely wrought objects in gold, platinum and ceramic. Fragments of various artifacts can still be found on the beaches and in the areas around the tolas. A small museum run by the local community shows some of the finer specimens collected on the island.
