Cara Sucia (Mesoamerican site) facts for kids

Cara Sucia is an ancient archaeological site found on the Pacific coast of western El Salvador. People lived here for about 1,800 years. It's famous for being one of the most southeastern places of the Late Classic Cotzumalhuapa culture. This culture covered a large part of Guatemala's Pacific coast and included some areas of El Salvador.

Exploring Ancient Cara Sucia

Early Settlements and Maya Connections

Cara Sucia was first settled around 900 BC, during a time called the Middle Preclassic period. In these early years, it was closely connected to other ancient Maya sites in western El Salvador, like Chalchuapa. We know this because they used similar types of pottery.

The Cotzumalhuapa Culture Arrives

Around 540 AD, a huge volcano called Ilopango erupted. This caused people to leave the Cara Sucia area. But a few decades later, around 600 AD, new people moved in. These new residents were part of the Cotzumalhuapa culture. Their way of life was very different from the earlier Maya people.

This is when the main buildings at Cara Sucia were constructed. These included a large main area called an acropolis, two enclosed ballcourts, and a tall pyramid about 14 meters (46 feet) high. There were also smaller pyramids and platforms. The buildings were made using large river stones that were all about the same size.

The acropolis had buildings with thatched roofs and walls made of wattle-and-daub (like mud and sticks). These buildings burned down at the end of the site's use. Scientists found that this happened around 920 AD.

Daily Life and Art at Cara Sucia

The pottery found at Cara Sucia is similar to pottery from the main Cotzumalhuapa area. Many small clay figures were also found, often used as whistles. These figures show different animals like monkeys and macaws, but most often they look like women. Scientists call the specific style of this period at Cara Sucia the "Tamasha" phase.

The flat land around Cara Sucia was perfect for growing cotton. Many spinning tools (called malacates) have been found, showing that making textiles (cloth) was very important. People might have also made salt and cacao (for chocolate) here.

Unique Stone Sculptures

Four large stone sculptures were found at Cara Sucia. They were moved from the site a long time ago, so we don't know exactly where they originally stood. These sculptures are in the style of Cotzumalhuapa art. One of them, called Monument 1, is a disk with a feline (cat-like) face.

The Cotzumalhuapa culture is also known for its special sculptures related to a ballgame, like yokes and hachas. These items have been found at Cara Sucia and other nearby sites.

The End of Cara Sucia

Cara Sucia was abandoned in the early 10th century AD. The burning of the buildings on the acropolis might suggest a violent end. However, it's also possible that lightning strikes caused the fires after the site was already empty. At that time, these tall structures were the highest points on the coastal plain.

Studying Cara Sucia's Past

Early Discoveries and Damage

The historian Santiago Barberena first wrote about Cara Sucia in 1892. He also had Monument 1 moved to the National Museum. The site was covered by forest until 1964. Then, bulldozers cleared the land for cotton farming, which caused a lot of damage to the ancient site. Many smaller buildings were completely destroyed.

Protecting the Site from Looting

In 1980, the land where Cara Sucia is located was taken over by the government. For a year, no one was in charge of the area. During this time, hundreds of local people started digging up the site every day, looking for artifacts to sell. More than 5,000 holes were dug! People who bought ancient items came to the site to buy them. This was a very sad time for archaeology in El Salvador. Many artifacts from Cara Sucia were sold in other countries. This led to an agreement between El Salvador and the United States to stop the illegal trade of ancient artifacts.

In 1981, the government's Department of Archaeology stepped in to stop the looting. They assigned Jorge Mejía to protect the site and fence off most of it. He also conducted extensive excavations to learn more about the acropolis and other structures.

Efforts to Preserve and Learn

In 1983, another researcher, Amaroli, documented the damage from looting and did some smaller excavations. They also tried to set up the site as an archaeological park with a parking area and walking trails. However, funding was cut in 1984, and the park plans stopped.

Amaroli continued to work at Cara Sucia in 1986. He confirmed that Cara Sucia was connected to the Cotzumalhuapa culture not just through its sculptures, but also through its buildings and pottery. In 1992, Cara Sucia was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative Lists, which means it's being considered for official World Heritage status.

Visiting Cara Sucia Today

Today, the Ministry of Culture has one park guard at Cara Sucia. You can visit the site, but there are no set hours. Most of the ancient structures are covered by plants and brush.

See also

In Spanish: Cara Sucia (sitio arqueológico) para niños