El Rayo, Nicaragua (2009)

By Geoffrey McCafferty, University of Calgary (mccaffer@ucalgary.ca)

El Rayo is located at the tip of Asese peninsula in Lake Nicaragua, just south of modern Granada.  It was discovered based on mortuary remains eroding out of the side of a roadcut.  In 2009, a multi-national team excavated at three loci, finding numerous burials as well as a multi-component residential area and a possible shrine with associated offerings.  This was a continuation of the Proyecto Arqueologica Granada, Nicaragua, which had previously excavated at Tepetate (2008).  The move to El Rayo was a response to the relatively poor contextual integrity of Tepetate, which had been badly looted in recent years.

Excavations above exposed burial context

Locus 1 included a small terrace above the roadcut, at the base of a hill of volcanic debris deposited during the formation of the peninsula.  The outlines of burial urns as well as human skeletal remains were exposed in the roadcut, and excavation units were placed to recover these and to test other parts of the terrace.  Numerous 'shoe-pots' of the typical Sacasa Striated type were found; however, instead of containing skeletal remains these often contained miniature vessels and large quantities of volcanic rock.  Poorly preserved crania were occasionally discovered beside the 'shoe-pots,' as were other offerings, including a cache of large lithic bifaces and ornamentation.  One vessel did contain a human crania, with a large biface projecting from the mouth.  The diagnostic ceramics from this level correspond to the Sapoa period (AD 800-1250).

Shoe-pot with inverted Castillo Incised bowl over opening

Feature 29 with two small vessels inside 'shoe-pot'

Feature 19, cache with bifaces and large ear spools near isolated skull (right)

Beneath the layer of Sapo period burials, however, were additional skeletal remains in extended position, and associated with ceramics dating to the Bagaces period (AD 300-800).  A cluster of three complete vessels may represent an offering: one of the vessels was modeled in the form of a nude female, and another was decorated with a modeled and incised rodent face.  Other offerings included a spindle whorl and a mano grinding stone.

Rodent pot, which contained human cranial remains (drawing by Armando Torres)

Locus 2 was located about 100 m to the north, on the other side of the volcanic hill.  Shovel testing indicated an area of artifact density, and subsequent testing encountered both Bagaces and Sapoa period deposits.  Operation 1 provided the most extensive exposure of the cultural transition between the two components, with stratified deposits reaching over 2 m in depth.  A sequence of C14 dates indicates that the transition occured about AD 800, and features a relatively rapid change in material culture, especially with the introduction of polychrome pottery.  Another operation discovered a thick stone wall that seems to represent a terrace wall for raising a Bagaces period platform above low-lying and possibly marshy surroundings.  A deep unit excavated to the west of the terrace wall discovered only Sapoa period materials to a depth over 2 m.

Locus 2, Operation 1, with Bagaces period ceramics at Level 10

Ceramic transition, Bagaces (left) to Sapoa (right)

Locus 2 terrace wall

Locus 3 was also discovered during shovel test survey, and is located about 200 m west of Locus 2.  Shovel tests up a gradual slope discovered several complete vessels and skeletal remains, suggesting another cemetery.  The most extensive exposure, however, included the foundation of a small stone structure, measuring about 1 x 2 m, suggesting a possible shrine.  No similar structures are known from Pacific Nicaragua, so this interpretation is tentative.  Alongside the small structure was an alignment of twelve 'shoe-pots', together with other smaller vessels and scattered human remains.  About 10 m downslope was a second concentration of human remains and possble offerings, including ceramic vessels, an ocarina in avian form, a copper bell, weaving tools, and a tooth pendant.  These remains probably date to the Sapoa period, based on diagnostic ceramics.

Locus 3, Feature 33, with scattered vessels, skeletal remains and architectural debris

Detail of Feature 33 with 'shoe-pots' and small bowls

Feature 40, with cranial remains next to Papagayo Polychrome periform bowl

Ceramic ocarina in form of frigate bird, from Feature 40

The 2009 excavation at El Rayo included one of the most thoroughly excavated (scientifically!) cemeteries at Locus 1, as well as potentially new forms of mortuary practice at Locus 3.  The cultural transition between Bagaces and Sapoa cultural levels seen at Loci 1 and 2 is important since existing culture histories suggest tha arrival of migrant groups from Mesoamerica significantly impacted the indigenous population at this time.  El Rayo offers outstanding potential for a rigorous archaeological evaluation of this transition.  Additionally, outstanding preservation of organic materials, especially faunal and botanical remains, offers excellent potential for interpretations of prehispanic foodways.

Additional information on El Rayo is avaiable at http://antharky.ucalgary.ca/mccafferty/granada/el-rayo