Intermediate Area facts for kids
The Intermediate Area is a special region in the Americas that archaeologists study. It's located between Mesoamerica (which is in parts of Mexico and Central America) to the north and the Central Andes mountains in South America to the south. This area includes parts of Honduras and Nicaragua, and most of Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia.
For a long time, people thought this area wasn't as important as other ancient civilizations like the Maya or Inca. This is because it didn't have big, powerful states when the Spanish arrived. Instead, it had many smaller groups led by chiefs, called chiefdoms.
However, new discoveries show that the Intermediate Area was actually very important! Some of the earliest farming, pottery, and metalworking in the Americas happened here. This means the people in this region played a big part in sharing new ideas and ways of life with their neighbors to the north and south.
Today, some experts prefer to call it the Isthmo-Colombian Area. This new name helps describe the region more clearly and neutrally.
Contents
What is the Intermediate Area?
The Intermediate Area is a geographical and archaeological region. It connects North and South America. It was first described by a famous archaeologist named Gordon R. Willey in 1971. He wrote about it in his book, An Introduction to American Archaeology, Vol. 2: South America.
Where is this region located?
This area covers a large part of Central and South America. It includes:
- Parts of Honduras
- Parts of Nicaragua
- Most of Costa Rica
- Most of Panama
- Most of Colombia
It acts like a bridge between the ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica and the Andes.
Why is this area important?
For a long time, the Intermediate Area was not seen as a major center for ancient civilizations. This was because it didn't have large, powerful states like the Aztec or Inca empires. Instead, it was home to many smaller groups called chiefdoms. These groups were led by powerful chiefs.
Early farming and crafts
Recent archaeological discoveries have changed this view. We now know that the Intermediate Area was actually very advanced in some ways. It had some of the earliest examples of:
- Agriculture: People here started farming very early. This helped them grow food and settle down.
- Pottery: They made some of the first pottery in the Americas. Pottery was important for cooking and storing food.
- Metallurgy: They were also among the first to work with metals. They created beautiful and useful objects from gold, copper, and other metals.
Sharing ideas and culture
Because of its location, the Intermediate Area played a key role in sharing culture. Ideas, technologies, and ways of life moved through this region. They traveled between the advanced civilizations to the north and south. This means the Intermediate Area was like a cultural highway. It helped connect different ancient societies.
New names for the region
Because the term "Intermediate Area" sometimes made it sound less important, new names have been suggested. One popular alternative is the Isthmo-Colombian Area. This name focuses on the Isthmus of Panama and Colombia. It helps to describe the region more accurately and neutrally.
