IN MEMORY OF THE MANY LIFES LOST ON THIS HELIDAY HERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY OF A PARK TILL THIS DAY IS AN AMAZING PLACE TO GO VISIT IF YOU EVER GO TO #PEURTORICO MAY OUR ANCESTORS BE AT PEACE!!!....... if you take a trip to the Caguana Indigenous Ceremonial Park (or Parque Ceremonial Indigena de Caguana in Spanish), you can learn about the people who lived in Puerto Rico (or Boriken as they called it) prior to the arrival of the Spanish. In this a small area, archaeologists have uncovered many artifacts, petroglyphs and a number of stone-lined areas. Many years later, after further excavations, research and preservation, this area (now operated by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture) is said to be one of the most important Taino-culture archaeological sites in the Antilles today. HISTORY OF THE CAGUANA CEREMONIAL PARK According to the archaeologists and anthropologists who have studied the ancient culture of Puerto Rico, most agree that the Tainos, as a cultural group, date from the year approximately 1000 – 1100AD to the beginning of the 15th century (when the Spanish arrived). Sadly, the Tainos were swiftly and almost completely decimated by disease and Spanish subjugation. In an odd twist of fate, some of the original Spanish did write about aspects of the Taino culture and customs they saw upon arrival. Now, with the Taino people gone, those writings give us much of the knowledge we have about the culture. Caguana Ceremonial Park There seemed to be an archaeological boom in the early 20th century. After word spread of possible ancient cultural finds in the area, Dr John Mason came from the States and began excavations in the area in 1915. He made detailed maps of the area and descriptions of his findings. However, they did not preserve the findings or petroglyphs and the site was left to be reclaimed by nature. In later years, other archaeologists came to the site and re-excavated. They have uncovered 10 ceremonial plazas (sometimes referred to as batey), many wonderful petroglyphs and other artifacts. There have been a few archaeological findings in the park (pieces of pottery) from proto-Taino (before the Taino) cultures, but it looks like the area was mainly used by the Taino people. The ceremonial plazas were thought to be constructed by the Tainos and used for about 300 years (until the Spanish arrived). In 1957, the government of Puerto Rico acquired the land from the farmer who owned it. Since then, they have excavated and restored the site, added a museum and made the area into a beautiful park.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 20:58:43 +0000
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